This delightful book explores the world of the cryptic crossword clue, a place where nothing is quite as it seems. From reflections on his children’s musical tastes (might ABBA be an Old Testament citation?) to veiled digs at Labour’s foreign policy (‘What could be subtler during search for weapon!’ 7, 4), each of Sandy Balfour’s perfectly proportioned essays is a joyful investigation of these devilishly difficult puzzles and the life they punctuate.