Listener 4106 A Change of Clothing by Elgin

[Ruthrobin]

A step up in difficulty here. We've floundered our way to a complete grid with crime fighters, an item of clothing and a set of villains, though I am not sure which one is the appropriate one to highlight. This one has been the most difficult for us for some time.

[Antmark]

Am I ruffling any feathers in tentatively suggesting a "park" connection? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

[JackDeCrow]

You're probably right daagg, but I have to say even though I was familiar enough with the theme to spot the change of direction (eventually), you'd have to have been more familiar with it than I to understand who the right villain was without looking it up!

[Zabadak]

For me, 32ac is an issue, as is how far to push what appear to be parallel stories, concerning the theft of the same type of object (too much internet research, I think!). I would be prepared to justify highlighting one of two possible "villains" in the grid, even if one of them is an unwitting one. Alternatively, I have three crime fighters, in one and a half pairs. Those of you that have confidently completed this grid (and, by the way, I've had a bit of a chuckle too) have presumably resolved these ambiguities.

[Zabadak]

Antmark, I don't think you're wrong.

[tilbee]

Have twigged the new direction whch seems to confim the apropriate villain, but like Zabadak am struggling with the same ambiguities re the 3 crime fighters.

[tilbee]

Penny finally dropped ambiguities resolved and all words justified. Some excellent red herrings here leading you down the wrong route.

[midazolam]

We are teetering on the edge of giving away too much here. There is enough in this thread to confirm there is something wrong and so persevering along a different line should resolve which of the villains is correct.

[AHearer]

Agreed, midazolam. The final PDM is well worth the effort of working it out for oneself.

[dr b]

I should have known I would not be able to resist. I decided to grade (mark!) 3 questions and then give 15 minutes to the puzzle, off and on. On the easier side but a lot of fun nonetheless. Oddly enough it was the "unused" answers that got me off the red herrings and to the real crime fighters.

[cluelessJoe]

Most enjoyable, and nice to get it out of the way in time to enjoy the golf yesterday - but what am I going to do today? Back to watching the deluge and nibbling at that grade E Magpie I suppose ...

[Clamzy]

I agree cJ very enjoyable indeed and I'm astonished to have finished so early (for me).
Nevertheless this was a lesson from a master compiler to all aspiring setters, containing just about every element one could wish for in a Listener crossword including, as mentioned above, some great "and lits".

[teuchter2]

I wasn't able to come to this one until yesterday evening so I've about finished the grid apart from 20d which is still puzzling me as yet. I have a good idea of the theme, but it's not a favourite by any means. I haven't as yet got the clothing, but will continue to try and make progress as it sounds as if the denouement is worth it.

[AndrewG-S]

Got the theme simply by reading the preamble, which was then quickly confirmed and most of the grid fill followed in a relatively straightforward way. But now struggling with the fourth/clothing with similar issues to those raised above. Time to sleep on it I think

[AndrewG-S]

Ah, as usual major PDM shortly after I posted

[silversolver]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one, completed in stages over the weekend during the Ryder Cup rain breaks. A real challenge with some very difficult clues and a very satisfying PDM at the end. Like others, have not been able to verify the final entry for 32ac but I guess it must be right! Thank you, Elgin, for an excellent and superbly constructed puzzle.

[reg orr]

32a should not be a problem - it IS in Chambers.
Assuming, of course, you are looking up the correct word !

I agree with the general sentiment of a "great puzzle, some lovely clues, great misdirection, etc etc"

[naomirod]

i have a full grid and a villain but do i have to solve the four clues?

[dr b]

naomirod, I found the 4 clues you refer to very helpful in sorting it all out. silversolver, as noted, if you are still wondering about 32a, you may not be as done as you think you are.

[Archie1962]

Hmm, I think I've found my way past the traps to the correct crime fighters and the villain, despite not understanding a few wordplays as usual. But that leaves the other two villains hanging without a thematic link. And although the missing clues do point to the theme, I was expecting the villain to have stolen those items. As far as I remember, he/she/it didn't.

... or am I expecting too much of Elgin?

[Deviant]

It took me a while to fill the grid, though ironically I made most progress while on the train this afternoon with no aids.

However, I thought the the crime fighters & villains were obvious. There's only one item of clothing that fits.

My only query is 32A(mk 2), which doesn't appear to be a dictionary word, though I don't have the other 2 books.