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This was a reply to the comment that the use of characters had been well rumbled. Despite all the helpful comments the north east corner and 15d are still puzzling me.

I'm wondering if my 14d is correct. I was thinking of troubles as in - the mind, - - e - c - s - s. I now have 5a and 6d, but 15d, 14a and 12a still causing anguish.

Your letters are correct and your assumption is also Heleninglos.

Good Everyman I thought but quite a challenge. I think all queries were fair on this forum. I'd question 'downgraded' in 16d too but overall I thought it was a fair cop.

Hi, Helen. 14a is a pun, split has the meaning run away. 15d is a double def. and 12a you need to reverse “looking back."

Rocky, I took downgraded to mean as in school grades.

Hugely disappointed that nobody has commented on my spoonerism at post #28.

Have a good week!

Hi darla

Yes that works. And makes it a good clue in fact.

Would someone, please, put me out of my misery and help with 7 down. I have struggled with it for hours. The ''Sherlock'' mention has me flummoxed. It seems to me the last word must be ''stranger'' so it was THE ???? STRANGER, possibly a SH book title, but I can find nothing at all with a Sherlock connection that would fit.

I would appreciate any help or guidance very much.

Big Al,
I don’t have it in front of me but the Sherlock reference is a homophone. Also your final “R” in strangeR is wrong. Definition as in the final stage of a horse race…

HI Al,

The 'S after "Sherlock" hints that the S, which is the first letter of the 3rd word needs to be connected to the second word when pronoucing it.

Plus, the N, E and R in your 3rd word are wrong - you are looking for 7 letter word that is a homophone for "characteristic".