- * = anagram
- [] = removed
- A(mpere) = abbreviation
This was a very nice thematic puzzle based on cops and criminals. There was fun to be had not just in solving the clues but also spotting all the thematic material. Much of it was obvious but some less so. I’ve listed all those I can see, but there are probably some others.
Police
- Fed
- Filth
- Pigs
- Force
- Panda (cars)
- Peeler
- Dibble (PC Dibble from Top Cat)
- Flatfoot
- Copper
Criminals and crimes
- Robberies
- Spiv
- Stings
- Arsonists
- Fence
| Across | |||
| 1. | American detective or American hat(6) | ||
| Fedora | Fed + or A(merican) | ||
| 4. | Rogue sailor to sin with worker(8) | ||
| Aberrant | Ab + err + ant | ||
| 10. | Believer coming first(9) | ||
| Adventist | Advent + Ist | ||
| 11. | Prohibition restricts firm producing meat(5) | ||
| Bacon | Ban around co | ||
| 12. | Fulfil theatrical characters producing pornography(5) | ||
| Filth | Hidden in “fulFIL THeatrical” | ||
| 13. | In-law regularly joins liberal performing artiste(9) | ||
| Ballerina | Even letters of in-law after liberal* | ||
| 14. | Ex promptly accepts final piece of estate(3-4) | ||
| One-time | On time around [estat]e | ||
| 16. | Celebrities backing petty criminal(4) | ||
| Spiv | VIPs< | ||
| 19. | Oddly priggish creatures(4) | ||
| Pigs | Odd letters of priggish | ||
| 21. | Outbreaks of spots covering actor’s rear revealed as 11 strips(7) | ||
| Rashers | Rashes around [acto]r | ||
| 24. | In contact with those people close to recovering(2,3,4) | ||
| On the mend | On(=in contact with) + them + end | ||
| 25. | Warning about constant pressure(5) | ||
| Force | Fore about c | ||
| 26. | Criticise US law man getting traditional Chinese gift(5) | ||
| Panda | Pan + DA – given how expensive pandas are to keep, I think it’s the gift most governments dread getting | ||
| 27. | Criminals chewing calorie-free croissants(9) | ||
| Arsonists | [C]roissants* | ||
| 28. | Store set out to get prizes(8) | ||
| Rosettes | (Store set)* | ||
| 29. | Look around inside of deli for kitchen utensil(6) | ||
| Peeler | Peer around [d]el[i] | ||
Down |
|||
| 1. | Fallen arch in studio base?(8) | ||
| Flatfoot | Flat (as in studio flat) + foot | ||
| 2. | Diminished posh ladies possibly rising in action(8) | ||
| Devalued | (U lav(atory))< in deed | ||
| 3. | Managed core part of zucchini farm(5) | ||
| Ranch | Ran + [zuc]ch[ini] | ||
| 5. | Rashly bets lot and loses nerve(7) | ||
| Bottles | (Bets lot)* | ||
| 6. | Crimes revealed as bribe rose uncontrollably(9) | ||
| Robberies | (Bribe rose)* | ||
| 7. | Remove nitrogen and oxygen from drug that’s frozen(6) | ||
| Arctic | [N]arc[o]tic | ||
| 8. | Friend of Dorothy‘s time on popular island(3,3) | ||
| Tin Man | T(ime) + in(=popular) + Man | ||
| 9. | Try turning empty bowl with electronic tool(6) | ||
| Dibble | Bid< + b[ow]l + e(lectronic) | ||
| 15. | Travelling, one can have time with books(9) | ||
| Itinerant | I + tin + era + NT | ||
| 17. | Act of revenge concerning spin doctor is almost complete(8) | ||
| Reprisal | Re + PR + is + al[l] | ||
| 18. | Legal advisor is idiot with running sores(8) | ||
| Assessor | Ass + sores* | ||
| 20. | Notice leaf dripping(7) | ||
| Seepage | See + page | ||
| 21. | Endlessly trade fishy food item(6) | ||
| Radish | [T]rad[e] [f]ish[y] | ||
| 22. | Manage without peseta, rand or penny?(6) | ||
| Copper | Cope around p(eseta) + r(and) | ||
| 23. | Tells about time conjuring up scams(6) | ||
| Stings | Sings around t(ime) | ||
| 25. | Barrier Reef wildlife given basic sustenance at last(5) | ||
| Fence | Seems to be fen for Reef wildlife + [basi]c [sustenanc]e, although I’m not quite sure why reef wildlife is fen –should be last letters of all the words. | ||
Thanks Vigo and NealH.
I did like the Celebrities backing petty criminal, the Criminal chewing calorie-free croissants and the Diminished posh ladies possibly rising in action!
The only other theme word I spotted was CON, CONfidence trick or CONvict, but probably not CONstable.
Thanks NeilH and Vigo.
I think 25 done are the last letters, respectively, of “reef wildlife given basic sustenance”
Sorry that’s 25 down.
Thanks to Vigo for another lovely puzzle and to NealH for the blog.
Re 28, we used to call the police “rossers” in Sheffield (alt. sp. of “rozzers”)
Thanks to Vigo & NealH. Typo for ROSETTE(r)S [Romanian compilers?]
Enjoyable puzzle. I liked the Barrier reef wildlife. I thought the ladies was going to be loo so that held me up a little.
Very quick solve but much to like thanks vigo and Neal, you spotted more thematic entries than me but I also suspected (blue)bottles for policemen.
All good fun! Thanks!
Well done, Vigo. Keep them coming. I may even spot the theme next time.
Thanks to NealH for the blog.
Bacon, one time, rashers, bottles and tin man are also slang for police (according to my extensive Internet research). Thanks to all who took the time to comment.
Victoria
Bit late to the party, but I enjoyed this – NW corner was the last to fall, but, as ever from this compiler, a nice solve at the easier end of things with a well worked theme.
Cheers to Vigo for the puzzle and Neal for the blog.