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	Hobbies & Games > Puzzles & Quizzes > Crosswords > General AAS
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The "Daily Telegraph" How to Crack a Cryptic Crossword by Val Gilbert

Beginner's Guide to Cryptic Crosswords: How to Interpret and Solve Crossword Clues by James A. Coleman

Customer Reviews:

If, like me, you find cryptic crosswords from The Independent and their ilk totally impenetrable, this great little book (written by an actual compiler) will almost certainly cut through most of the mystique.

Skinner teaches the reader his own method for recognizing the different types of clue and how to go about solving them. His explanations make the derivation of the solutions extremely logical. From knowing nothing initialy, within around ten pages I managed to complete the first practice crossword without cheating once!

Now the caveat: as Skinner (quite correctly) maintains, the best way of learning how to do crosswords is to DO CROSSWORDS, which means that the last two thirds of the book are exactly that: crosswords. Having said that, they do come with fully exploded solutions (which newspaper versions lack).

This book will let you tackle cryptic crosswords in no time at all. Definitely recommended.

  An Excellent Book (11 November 2003)
The way this book leads you through the minefield of the different types of clue gives you the confidence and skills to have a successful attempt at a "real" cryptic crossword. A very good book for taking the interested beginner into the fascinating and totally-absorbing world of cryptic crosswords. Highly recommended.

  Fantastic! (11 November 2003)
If you want to learn how to solve these "bizarre" crosswords, this is a very good book. What I particularly liked was that after you had been taught a certain technique, there was a whole crossword devoted to this particular type of clue. After a few chapters there was then a revision chapter and revision crosswords, covering all sorts of clues taught to that point. A brilliant introduction to solving cryptics.

  A solid introduction (23 November 2002)
The learning curve of this book is pitched just right. Easily the best feature of the book are the sample puzzles, with answers explained on the following pages. There are 2 difficulty levels, tabloid and broadsheet, and this works well.

He explains the various tricks of the trade clearly and concisely.

Recommended.