Henry Hooks' Cryptic Crosswords (Paperback)

by HENRY HOOK (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
That mad genius of the cruciverbal arts has released his second collection of all-original cryptic puzzles. As if his "straight" cryptics aren't challenging enough, Hook throws in twist upon diabolical twist. As a solver you can look forward to a raft of new experiences, many of which will make you laugh with delight--once you get past the desire to strangle the devilish constructor with his own clues. Nimble-minded solvers will find the rewards well worth the moments of temporary frustration. This is some exceedingly clever stuff, great fun and full of the expected Henry Hook wit. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
America's cryptic fairs already know what to expect from the poison pen of Henry Hook: ultra-devious wordplay and a take-no-prisoners attitude.

But he was just being kind until now. Introducing Henry Hook's Cryptic Crosswords, wherein puzzledom's Master of Mean has outdone himself. So beware -- these puzzles are not for the squeamish. You've been warned. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: RH Puzzles & Games (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812927230
• ISBN-13: 978-0812927238
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Up to the Henry standard., January 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Henry Hook's Cryptic Crosswords, Volume 2 (Other) (Paperback)

Henry's puzzles operate at a level of sophistication comparable to that of the finest British cryptics, but the references are refreshingly familiar to North American solvers. No more agonizing over clues only to find the answer to be the name of a village in Northamptonshire. Instead, references to baseball, rock & roll, movies. Great fun, every bit the equal of his previous book, and that was one of my great finds.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyably Maddening, June 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Henry Hook's Cryptic Crosswords, Volume 3 (Other) (Paperback)

This third volume differs little from either of the first two, right down to the cover design (the big 3 is the only difference). All three cater to to the champion solver, those used to cryptic crosswords, and not to the uninitiated (who may wish to pick up Random House's Guide to Cryptic Crosswords instead.)

The puzzles are all playful, with both simple and complex variations. Expect to take several days to fully solve some puzzles (esp. Drop and Roll), but only a few minutes to solver others (Cryptocryptic, which contained a typo).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get hooked, August 12, 2002

By	William MacDonald (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henry Hook's Cryptic Crosswords, Volume 5 (Other) (Paperback)

Henry Hook is one of the most devious and creative cryptic constructors in the world, and these collections show that he can be among the most prolific, too. Although there are some puzzles here that are pleasantly solvable, there are some that will challenge even the most jaded cryptic aficionado. And Hook's trickery depends on forcing solvers to look at words and letters in new ways, but his clues always play fair -- no mismatch of tense or parts of speech, no extraneous words, and no words used twice (once in the definition and once in the wordplay) -- errors that some other constructors, even very well-regarded ones, allow themselves with regularity.