i Cryptic Crossword 2287 Monk

Our second Saturday Prize Puzzle reprint of the week comes courtesy of Monk, who’s a setter I often struggle with. Today’s offering though proved to be more straightforward than some, though one where it paid (for me at least) to take a break half-way through and come back to some of the more difficult / obscure clues. 1d falls into the latter category most certainly, but could be little else. I was unaware of the definition used at 11ac, and struggled a little at the close with 21d, but everything else was clear, and always fair and above board. There’s a theme of letters that are repeated only once in each answer I’m guessing most solvers won’t have spotted and won’t be sorry to have missed. 🙂

COD? Lots to like, and lots of very nicely constructed clues, but for me at least 14ac, which is lovely and succinct, raised a smile – “Whipping fetish? (11)”.

To February 2014 for all the answers and parsing of the clues:

http://www.fifteensquared.net/2014/02/08/independent-saturday-prize-puzzle-8518-monk-1st-feb-2014/