Taking one unchecked letter from each across solution gives EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION, whose victims, according to Chambers 2011, include TERRORIST SUSPECTs. The initial letters of unclued entries were S,T,R,R,T,I,E,R,O. First prize Michael Debenham, Shrewsbury Runners-up Mrs Jane Smith, King’s Lynn; Jamie Staveley, London SW15
The hero is Father Brown, appearing in column 3. ‘The Innocence (22) / Wisdom (15) / Secret (6D) / Scandal (27) of Father Brown’ are four collections containing, respectively, the stories ‘The Blue Cross’ (7), ‘The Purple Wig’ (25), ‘The Red Moon of Meru’ (18) and ‘The Green Man’ (26). First prize Steve Reszetniak, Enfield,
Each of seventeen clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter. The extras spell a four-word excerpt from a quotation (in ODQ) from a translation of a work by 10 (two words). Clues in italics consist of cryptic indications of partial answers; in each case, the
The key word is BUTTERMILK (8), which can be separated into words defined by 15, 27, 40; 4, 23, 25; and 2, 7, 35. First prize Brian Midgley, Ettington, Warwickshire Runners-up John M. Brown, Rolleston on Dove, Staffordshire; K.J. Williams, Kings Worthy, Hampshire
Nine unclued lights can be separated into three groups; each group consists of three definitions of one of three words into which the remaining unclued light can be separated. Across 1 Estate wild spree devastates (8) 6 Bird with tail obscured by country shrub (6) 10 Fellow, one feels sadly,
Six of the unclued entries contained the Cluedo character surnames; the remaining unclued entries were therefore a murder weapon and location from the game. First prize Michael Hawkins, Matlock, Derbyshire Runners-up Ferdinand Dobbs, London SW1; C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West Sussex
All except four clues contain a superfluous word each. Initial letters of these words spell the titles of four 29D by 39 (two words). The first title defines four unclued lights; the second and third titles are defined by the remaining unclued lights. The fourth title (four words) is a cryptic indication of a sequence
Extra letters in clues give the assertion by HOUSMAN (31) that ‘I could no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat’. In the grid, the definition RENEGADE eludes seven unclued terriers. First prize J.R. Carrington, Denchworth, Oxfordshire Runners-up Sandra Speak, Dursley, Gloucestershire; Andrew James, Winchester, Hampshire
Each of 23 clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter. Each of 13 clues is of the same type, but includes two extra letters, next to each other within the jumble. The extras spell a 13-word assertion (in ODQ) by an unclued light. Concealed in
Twelve unclued lights are names of ARTISTS which are ANAGRAMS (9) of superfluous words in clues. First prize E. Hogg, London SW13 Runners-up A. Mulholland, Nottingham; Sue Topham, Elston, Newark
Each of twelve clues contains a superfluous word. 9 of these words are unclued lights, which are of a kind. Ignore an accent in one unclued light. Across 7 Crowds around gold bowls (6) 12 Mole shuffled by, skirting soft fruit (9, hyphened) 15 Begin harangue imbued with independent spirit (9) 16 Catch including
Seven unclued lights are STUFFED ANIMALS (13 18) — i.e. deer, horse, anoa, cat, seal, tup and boar, filled with material supplied by TAXIDERMY (20). First prize Peter Done, Turramurra, NSW, Australia Runners-up Dr S.M. Sheerin, Princes Risborough, Bucks; D.P. Shenkin, London WC1
Seven unclued lights are words that may be regarded as 13 18. The remaining unclued light supplies the material with which, in normal clue order, the 18 are 13. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 4 Rags, acceptable kind, around revolving stand (9) 10 Mind being occupied by time in places where ships are repaired
All the unclued lights mean ‘Goodbye’. First prize Alan Donovan, Croydon, Surrey Runners-up Mary Varela, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex; Geoffrey Telfer, Shipley, West Yorks
Definitions in nineteen clues are unreliable. In each of ten there is a superfluous letter, and from each of the other nine a letter is missing. Superfluous and missing letters, taken in clue order, spell four words of a quotation (in ODQ) by 9 (two words). The quotation’s next word is an unclued light which
Unclued lights are TYROS. Corrections of misprints (including one in the title) give the alternative title ROOKIES. First prize E. Hogg, London SW13 Runners-up Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland; C.S.G. Elengorn, Enfield, Middlesex
Each of seven definitions contains one misprinted letter. Corrections of misprints spell an alternative title for the puzzle, defining the unclued lights. Across 1 Anticipating trick by director in compilation, sons squeal (14, hyphened) 9 Right covering round gnat (4) 11 Mad lord, never a traveller across country (10) 12
Extra letters in clues give cancrine and Sotadean, both meaning PALINDROMIC, which describes each of the unclued lights and also the number and title of the puzzle. First prize Chris James, Ruislip Manor Runners-up P. and R. Dacre, York; Hugh Schofield, Paris
Each of sixteen clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras spell two words. Solvers who refer to Chambers will find, in the definitions of these words, a word that describes each of the unclued lights. This word, concealed in the grid, must be
Unclued lights were winners of the NOBEL PRIZE (11A) for literature and their works. Each work contained a colour in the title, explaining how to shade the answer: MY NAME IS RED (1D); THE GOLDEN NOTEBOOK (19D); THE GREAT GOD BROWN (15D); THE GREEN HOUSE (35D). First prize Jamie Staveley, London SW15 Runners-up Clare