Contents
2 Overview of Clues and Indicators
3 Clue Types and Indicators in Detail
5 Tips for Solving the Whole Puzzle
7 Ten Things to Consider When Stuck
Part 2: Mastering the Finer Points
10 Ten Especially Troublesome Words
12 Ten Ways to Raise Your Game
Solutions: Practice Clues to Try by Type
About the Publisher
To my musician friends in the London Symphony Orchestra,
some of whom are managing to crack cryptics after reading my previous book, and all of whom have consistently given me immense musical pleasure over many years.
After many years of struggling to make sense of the cryptic clues contained in the crosswords published in the daily papers such as The Times, Telegraph and Observer, I commenced on my retirement in 2002 to tackle the crossword that regularly appeared in The Week magazine which was delivered every Friday. Over the next few years I found that I could answer some of the clues as I got to understand and decode the language used by the setter, Tim Moorey.
At this stage in 2008, I started to seek out relevant books and courses that might help me and then discovered that Tim Moorey held weekend workshops on demystifying cryptic crosswords. On checking out his website I found that he was about to provide a Sunday afternoon talk about cryptic crosswords at the Farncombe adult education centre near Evesham. Both I and my wife attended Tim’s enjoyable entertaining but thought-provoking presentation about cryptic clues based on the extensive vocabulary of the English language and about the various setters for the national newspapers. Afterwards I purchased a copy of the recently published book How to Master The Times Crossword. I only had to flick through a few pages to know that I had, at last, found the book that clearly explained the thought processes that lie behind the cryptic language used by the crossword setters.
Once home I started to work through Tim’s book and found I could follow his clear definitions, examples and solutions for the differing types of cryptic clue. With the tutorial style for working through a number of puzzles methodically I felt that I was beginning to get into the crossword clue setter’s mind.
Having whetted my appetite with Tim’s book I and my wife quickly enrolled onto one of Tim’s weekend workshops in early 2009 and we both experienced the sheer delight in cracking the codes of selected cryptic crosswords from a range of the national newspapers in a cooperative, not competitive environment. The course clearly explained in an informal presentation all of the cryptic clue types, all of the abbreviations used by all setters, and, best of all, how to actually tackle the crossword and break the ice to answer the first clue.
The workshop essentially is the practical application of the contents of Tim’s book. If you cannot afford the time to attend one of Tim’s workshops then you must buy this book. It really reveals everything you need to know about the wonderful pastime of deciphering the code of the clues for cryptic crossword solving. I now have the satisfaction of regularly completing the crossword each week in The Week but I now regularly tackle and occasionally succeed with other setter’s crosswords in The Times, Telegraph, Observer and The Oldie. My enjoyment of this range of puzzles is all due to the application of the rules, examples and methods that are distributed throughout the 200-plus pages of this small masterpiece. If you want, like me, to enjoy the thrill and satisfaction of completing a cryptic crossword then this updated book now covering a range of daily, weekly and monthly publications is the book to diligently work through. You will enjoy many hours of mental exercise and sheer enjoyment at deciphering the clever clue structure that is now an established British pastime.
Happy reading with a sharp rubber-ended pencil to hand.
Tony Savage
A crossword solver