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Thanks ginge.
I think I have it now. Chambers has the word hyphenated.I was trying with the other set of books. Once I changed the first letter of books, it became easy.
Looking for an animal was the wrong way to go.

Still only half way. Will be back.

I think 27d holds the clue to Seven normal clues.
Is 19a a slang from Australia?

Hi again sunray, 27d is one of the 7 normal clues. 19a uses an Australian "slang" term in the wordplay

sunray
Re 19a - the Australian slang is part of the wordplay

Thanks ginge and lilith.
It seems I am stuck.

Solving 19d may help.

19a seems to involve anagram of tralee + slang. Spa the def?

Yes spa is the definition. There are 2 instances of the letter missing, 1 is the first letter. Wordplay Tralee* then the Aussie slang.

Thanks ginge. Got it. Had never heard the slang for attractive woman.

Still a few left.

Made it to the finish line.

I used the first three words formed by the missing letters from clue answers to enter seven normal clues.
I have no idea how the remaining 5 words help.

In 3d what is the word water 's significance?
Ship's cabin is muddy, with marks purged by cold water (5)
This is thematic so no extra letter.

Thanks.

Sunray. Look at C in Chambers. Will confirm. A rather nice puzzle this week. There have been some cracking IQs recently.

Thanks jlc.

Are you replying to my question on extra letters forming 5 words or what water is doing in the clue at 3d?

I looked up both, the three letter C word and the 5 letter C word. Neither gave me anything as to why water is included in the clue.

Hi again sunray, in case jlc doesn't look in again he/she is referring to "c" in Chambers being cold (water) rather than just cold.
Re the extra letters I get the phrase and the 2 definitions referred to in the preamble; 3 words, 2 words & 2 words (the first word of the 2 definitions being the same 2 letter word).