QUICK CROSSWORD

Across

7 “The Mousetrap” playwright Christie (6)

8 Common topic for mystery writers (6)

9 “___!Crackle! Pop!” - Rice Krispies slogan (4)

10 Smokers’ gadgets (instead of matches) (8)

11 Whodunit genre (7)

13 ‘The Da ___ Code’ (5)

15 Assert (5)

17 Post-season game (7)

20 Antedate (8)

21 “___ On Me” - 1989 film with Morgan Freeman (4)

22 Christie sleuth Hercule (6)

23 “Murder on the ___ Express” (6)

Down

1 The “A” of CIA (6)

2 Armstrong’s was small but historic (4)

3 Bellicose clan leader; Private militia head (7)

4 The end, in Athens (5)

5 Tip on a table (8)

6 Like rust, chemically (6)

12 Toothpaste or shaving cream, e.g. (8)

14 Eater who tends toward excess (7)

16 Gary, creator of “The Far Side” (6) 18 Salinger’s “___ and Zooey” (6)

19 Poker term. (5) 21 Animal abode (4)