Learning to do cryptic crosswords is arguably best done by teaming up with a practised solver (and it's satisfying and sociable too). However, asking someone to explain the intricacies over the phone is not recommended, and I bought this book to get some tips for explaining this addictive hobby!
The book's good points:
1 It includes crosswords to solve, which are graded to include each type of clue as it's taught.
2 There is a useful list of abbreviations – the building blocks of many answers.
3 It is economically priced.
The bad points:
1 Kevin Skinner is supposedly an 'expert crossword compiler', but nowhere does the book give his credentials.
2 Some of the clues devised to teach particular skills don't make sense, undermining the core appeal of cryptic clues - that they appear to mean one thing, but actually mean another. A clue such as COMMUNIST THE FOURTH 4TH TO YOU AND I WILL BE REINSTATED would never get published as it makes no sense!
