Cryptic Crosswords & How to Solve Them

Product Review

Welcome to the world of cryptic crosswords, where no clue is as simple as it seems. Here's where you can uncover the secrets to solving these tricky puzzles and then test out your new-found skills on some of the toughest examples you've ever seen! For the first part of the book, in-depth, step-by-step notes and annotations explain how to solve each type of clue. Learn how to recognize "flags" signaling hidden words, anagrams, charades, homophones, reversals, containers, deletions, and double definitions. Then, practice on the samples where the clues may appear to make sense on the surface, but dig deeper and you'll see that each one has at least two meanings. One definition is obvious--but to figure out the other, you'll have to engage in some wordplay. Once you've fully grasped cryptic logic, try the real thing with 19 increasingly difficult, bigger puzzles. 96 pages, 70 b/w illus., 5 3/8 x 8 1/4.

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review

(6 customer reviews)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

Fine Introduction to the world of Cryptic Crosswords, January 9, 2002

"arun_subramani" (Santa Clara, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cryptic Crosswords & How to Solve Them (Official American Mensa Puzzle Book) (Paperback)

The author indicates how the typical cryptic clue is comprised. There is a definition portion and a wordplay portion. He then goes on to describe the different kinds of wordplays normally used in clueing. Each chapter describes one kind of wordplay. At the end of each chapter, there is a mini crossword that employs that particular wordplay and there are sometimes more exercises based on the wordplays covered so far. The end of the book contains full-sized and increasingly complex crosswords which are a pleasure to solve after the entire book has been read.The style of writing is very simple and easy to understand also. If you ever wanted to get introduced to cryptic crosswords, there isn't a better alternative than to pick up a copy of this book and get cracking...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Helpful book, but not worth what some are charging, March 14, 2011

Lynn Ryan-loeb (Port St. Lucie, FL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Cryptic Crosswords & How to Solve Them (Official American Mensa Puzzle Book) (Paperback)

This book is a great introduction to cryptic crosswords, and how to identify the types of wordplay that are utilized in the clue. Puzzles are given at the end of each explanation, and cumulative puzzles are incrementally scattered throughout that encompass all the wordplay learned thus far.

What you need to know before purchasing this book is that it is a very skinny paperback, and certainly not worth the money that some sellers are asking for it through Amazon marketplace!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Great little book!, July 8, 2008

D. Sutherland (Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Cryptic Crosswords & How to Solve Them (Official American Mensa Puzzle Book) (Paperback)

This is a well-written little book, and a clear introduction to solving cryptic crosswords. It's unusual in that it is an American book (most cryptic crossword books come from British authors). There is good coverage of all the major clue types, with plenty of examples. After each short chapter there is a mini-crossword featuring just that clue type. There are also progressive cryptics through the book, using the clues learned to that point.

There are 19 full crosswords at the back of the book, and all the answers are explained, another valuable learning tool.

The main thing lacking from the book are some useful reference lists, such as common abbreviations used in cryptics - but these can easily be found in reference books or online.