NOW TRY OUR MORSE CROSSWORD
CHIEF Inspector Morse was almost as famous for his love of crosswords as he was for solving murders. That’s because his creator Colin Dexter, who died this week, had been five times national crossword champion. As a tribute, today we present a specially commissioned Morse-themed crossword. You’ll find easier concise clues first, and harder cryptic ones below. Good luck!
CONCISE CLUES Across
2 Inspector -----, detective creation of 9 Across (5) 4 The Dead Of -------, 1981 novel by 9 Across (7) 9 Colin ------, author who died on Tuesday (6) 11 Left (8) 12 Morse’s television viewers as a whole (8) 13 Saloon car driven by 2 Across (6) 14 When Morse gets the better of a criminal (7) 16 New -------, Oxford, where the drama A Case For Inspector Morse was staged (7) 18 Morse’s self-esteem (3) 19 Guilt (7) 22 Sugar found in beer (7) 26 Handgun (6) 27 What some people think of Wagner operas (3-2-3) 28 French police officer (8) 29 City central to novels by 9 Across involving 2 Across (6) 31 Item of clothing that could be used to strangle a victim (7) 32 Robbie -----, sidekick of 2 Across (5)
Down
1 Forename of 2 Across (9) 2 Dr --- DeBryn, Morse’s pathologist played on screen by Peter Woodthorpe and James Bradshaw (3) 3 Chief Superintendent played on screen by James Grout and Sean Rigby (7) 5 Type of drink favoured by 2 Across (4,3) 6 Close-fitting garment that might be worn by a feline burglar (7) 7 See 20 Down. 8 Venomous British snake (5) 10 The Riddle Of The ----- Mile, 1983 novel by 9 Across (5) 15 Catch sight of a murderer (3) 16 Male cat, and famous clock tower at Christ Church, Oxford (3) 17 Coloured cosmetic worn by some female victims in Morse (9) 20 and 7 Down. Freemasons (7, 5) 21 What Morse’s boss reads him when he misbehaves (4, 3) 23 Elias -------, 17th-century English antiquary who gave his name to famous Oxford museum (7) 24 Robber (5) 25 Pieces of evidence Morse is so good at analysing (5) 26 The nickname given to Morse at school (5) 30 Slang for organised police actions (3)
CRYPTIC CLUES Across
2 Fictional detective all dots and dashes (5) 4 Our man found dead in this Oxford suburb! (7) 9 Right, like featured author (6) 11 Left, like featured author this week (8) 12 Television watchers due a cine release (8) 13 TV Inspector’s feline motor (6) 14 Surpasses females wandering in Magdalen Deer Park (7) 16 Change at three for Morse’s opera venue (7) 18 Self-importance of police governor (3) 19 Deep regret about fictional detective (7) 22 Dismal to see beer component therein (7) 26 Spoilt broken firearm (6) 27 Snobbish, I had dahl arranged (3-2-3) 28 Legend, armed, held French copper (8) 29 Lace-up shoe might be home to fictional detective (6) 31 Drink and draw for collar attachment often worn to court (7) 32 Fictional detective’s oppo seen off the Scottish mainland (5)
Down
1 An overdue change for detective’s forename (9) 2 Extreme pathologist and friend of Morse (3) 3 Odd Chief Super in our detective’s universe (7) 5 Fictional detective’s favoured tipple endorsed by camera, we hear (4, 3) 6 Fur? Perhaps worn by sneaky burglar (7) 7 See 20 Down. 8 Snake not subtractor (5)
10 A fraction after the first second (5) 15 How Morse would perceive bishop’s place (3) 16 Christ Church tower houses male cat (3) 17 Cosmetic tail by private detective? (9) 20 and 7 Down. Shifty demon corsair not liked by our detective (7, 5) 21 Melted ricotta used as civil disorder prevention measure (4, 3) 23 Tree mammal might produce 17th-century antiquary and library donor (7) 24 One who steals if the change occurs (5) 25 Blues key change at the beginning may produce pieces of evidence (5) 26 Our detective’s nickname, not Christian name (5) 30 Police operations produce three-quarters of beer ingredients (3)
HERE ARE THE CROSSWORD ANSWERS FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE