Listener 4205 Murder Mystery 2 by Gos

[Ruthrobin]

Just two hours to fill this grid but then we had some grid staring to complete the endgame. Still, it was good to have a set of simple clues and an easy romp for a change after some we have seen this summer.

[midazolam]

Deja vu from the beginning of the year, perhaps we will end the year again with a run of stinkers. To be honest, the cluing was not Listener quality. I am not sure the size of the grid was necessary, reducing to 13x13 and using the bottom row unclued entry would suffice

[starwalker]

Having made a mess of the previous Gos Murder Mystery, I was determined that this time I would be more careful. Still took far too long on the final step, but at least I got there.
I think that I can guess that Zabadak and his "love" of word searches will be in for a strong cup run with this. Thanks Gos, for the enlightenment.

[jim360]

Cluing may not have been Listener quality - I'm not really qualified to judge that yet - but there were a few nice ones in the mix, surely? I enjoyed 16a and 13d in particular.

I have everything now about from 27d though I think I know what that is. Nice teaser near the top of the grid (presumably?) but is there a bit of ambiguity in the final highlighting of the nickname?

[cruciverbali]

Deja vu certainly with 49d - see 7a in last week's EV (1032). For a different challenge rompers still have time to take a look at this week’s Azed Crossword :

http://image.guardian...2/08/13/2099aug26.pdf

[Ruthrobin]

Cruciverbalist - I see your are giving your regular Azed plug, any day now we'll all be suspecting you are the same person who invariably gives it on the Crossword Centre message board. So I shall counter with the reminder that the September Magpie has appeared - who can resist? http://www.piemag.com/

[Walterloo]

Cripes! Big grid! Small printing! For me it's come out too small. Unless I'm missing a simple procedure it's a lot of tinkering to get these grids and clues to come out usable. I wish they would alter things so they printed like Magpies. One page! Big grid squares! My eyes rejoice at them. It looks interesting but I don't think I'll have a go this week. Back to the new Magpie.

[Zabadak]

Just to say that Starwalker has it spot on, though I've screwed up bits of the grid looking for appropriate words to jumble. At least the author was easy to identify. I have found every book in the list by picking letters at random from the grid, just as our sleuth picks up clues in surprising places. I doubt, however, that's what Gos had in mind.
I'm having another look tomorrow, but enthusiasm is not great.

[jim360]

Loose ends tied up now, thanks to Ruth.

Honestly, I wait ages for Friday Club membership and then 3 come along at once...

[TheBear69]

An easy grid fill and it did not take long to spot enough of the title to get the whole thing by searching a list. No ambiguity re the detective since every answer involved has to be jumbled. Back to the Magpie...

[Philoctetes]

@Walterloo - I print them in landscape and it comes out just dandy (three pages)

[Walterloo]

Thanks Philoctetes - I'll have a look.

[Texasetes]

On the subject of website shortcomings, it seems that the problem with the missing puzzle titles and setter names has spread. As I type, none of the past Listener puzzles (as far back as I can be bothered to check) show either a title or setter name, and they're all dated 'September 1, 2012'. Thus, all puzzles earlier than 4203 are untitled, uncredited and undated. If I were a setter, or a solver of past puzzles, I wouldn't be very happy.

Methinks the website maintainers need to get their act together.

[silversolver]

Yes, relatively straightforward after some of the recent "toughies". I also felt that some of the clueing was a little loose but it all came together nicely in the end.

[Cruciverbalist]

Well if you're still at a loose end this weekend, don't forget Preston Guild has started - never mind the Olympics, there'll be 4 more of them before the next Guild - take a look !

http://prestonguild20...m/visitor-information

[dr b]

Well, I solved all the cryptic clues, which I enjoy, and was faced with finding some obscurity, entered in some obscure way, in a 15x15 grid, which I do not enjoy. Faced with the question, "Am I working the Listener, or is the Listener working me?", I tossed the grid in the recycle bin and went on with my day. It felt pretty good, I must say.

[IainGrace]

Agree with general sentiment. Not sure what Listener standard for clues is - or indeed who sets it or is entitled to do so - but this didn't seem up to the mark. Members of this household falling over themselves to announce immediate solution of too many clues. Learned something about a new subject, at least.

[tilbee]

I seem to be making more heavy weather of this than others. Majority of grid filled very quickly this afternoon but then came to a bit of a standstill with now two clues left to enter. I have a plausible title within the grid, and an associated nickname but cannot see how this uniquely applies to the clues that I know I need to anagrammatize. Possibly I have made a wrong assumption ?

On a more positive note delighted to see that I won a Magpie prize on just my 5th entry. Think odds work out much better than they do for the Listener.

[Walterloo]

After a long deliberation (two months at least!) I've decided to cancel my Times renewal, which is about to end. This is mainly because of time issues. I don't have much of it at weekends now. I'm attempting to revive another passion which is to write short stories (and a novel - doesn't everybody these days?) and Mr Time has become an elusive stranger. I work full time and have a son who stays over a lot, so moments of leisure and necessary clarity are infrequent. I've had two stories published so far and I hope to increase that over the next few years. If I try and they - and the novel - turn out to be garbage then at least I've given it a crack. I'm staying with the Magpie because I can (usually) get the five puzzles finished early each month in a one-after-the-other cluster. The weekly Listener encroached too far into my Sat/Sun freedom.

So this is me signing off. Enjoy all the future Listeners to come. I'll miss them but I'll also miss you lot, you bunch of clever puzzleheads. Your comments have been rewarding and fun to read over the years, and on many occasions very helpful indeed.

Mike/Walterloo

[tilbee]

Ok now have a final grid, though not sure I am 100% happy with my final highlighting. Walterloo I am sure I am speaking for many of us when I say that we will miss your insights from this thread. Very best of luck with the writing and hopefully will still be able to read any of your input to the Magpie forum.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, indeed, Walterloo, as Tilbee says, we'll be sad to lose you and we'll miss your insightful comments. I hope we'll recognise you in your remarks on the Magpie forum and be alerted when we can read that novel. Best wishes and good luck.