Enigmatic Variations No.1394 – Coup de Grace by Gaston

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“The unclued entries have been practising for the COUP DE GRACE by removing a thematic group of consecutive letters from eight normally clued entries, always leaving shorter, real words to be entered in the grid. In all other clues, wordplay indicates the answer with an extra letter; in clue order these letters reveal the theme. Solvers should administer the COUP DE GRACE themselves by blacking out two symmetrical groups of six.”

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Independent 10,247 by Phi

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Phi is back to his usual day, but for how long? Were his recent perambulations the sign of something regular? Perhaps Friday, being a random day, is just one of the days he visits.

Anyway, this was what you expect from Phi: things don’t work out instantly (apart from one or two, like 5dn or 8dn) but you know that in due course all will become clear. I found this to be easier than is usual for Phi, but none the worse for that.

Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.

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