Evil Influence (solution)
by Scott Handelman with additional clues by Kevin Carde and Francis Heaney
First, solvers fill in the straightforward cryptic crossword (see below for full solution).
Solvers should then notice that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the letter O in the grid and the black and white circles to the left of the grid. When the Os are colored black and white, the grid doubles as a Masyu puzzle (clued by the title, which is the literal English translation for “Masyu”). After solving the Masyu, a final message
can be read by starting at the top left corner and reading the non-O corners of the path as one moves
clockwise: THE FINAL ANSWER IS DRUNK TANK.
Across | Down |
- CATHOLIC (2 def; pun)
- BALI (hid.)
- ION (NO + I rev.)
- OUST (JOUST - J)
- ROTOR (last letters)
- SITE (YETIS - Y rev.)
- F(RE)ER (rev.)
- RUE (ROUE - O)
- TIP (rev.)
- ADE (MADE - M)
- OW(N)ING
- GOL + D (rev.)
- SUE (SURE - R)
- TOGA (first letters)
- KN-ISH (2 def)
- T + ONE
- C(ANT)OO
- WEDGIE (we dig ana. + E)
- ALSO (hom.)
- SELMA (males anag.)
- SOLO (hom.)
- OUR (FOUR - F)
- OBOE (first letters)
- SOURCE (scour anag. + E)
- IDI (hom.)
- OAT (OATH - H)
- ELL (COLLEGE - ends rev.)
- ORC + AS
- UNIT (hom.)
- SALSA (a lass anag.)
- SHOD (SHOWED - WE rev.)
- RUM (CRUMB - ends)
- RHEA (HEAR, last letter moved to front)
- BYPASSES (spy’s base anag.)
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- TI(K)TO(K)
- COSIGN (hom.)
- ANI (Ian anag.)
- T+OTAL (alto anag.)
- HU(E)D
- LTR (hid.)
- I(K)E
- CREW (SCREW - S)
- BORN (OB rev. + RN)
- LOUNGE (on luge anag.)
- TRIO (or it anag.)
- REGALE (LAGER rev. + E)
- FESS (first letters)
- PO + INT
- OUTPOUR (troop + UU anag.)
- ONES (HONEST - ends)
- TED (TWEED - WE)
- HOLA (hid.)
- IG + LOO
- CUSSES (EXCUS(S)ES - EX)
- TAO (2 def.)
- MOOLAH (hom. without final sound)
- IRIS (IRISH - H)
- MEATUS (mutes a anag.)
- AUTUMN (hid. rev.)
- L + UL + L
- BI(N)DS
- ROSA (so far anag. - F)
- CRAB (hid. rev.)
- DUOS (SOUND rev. - N)
- CO + Y
- ASP (odd letters)
- IRE (EMPIRE - EMP)
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