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Rating: 
Summary: Stilled Hooked
Review: Henry Hook has finally released Volume 4 in his series of maddeningly difficulty cryptic puzzles. Like previous volumes in the series, the book consists of 45 variety styles crosswords and acrostics including repeated varities from past volumes (Crypto-Cipher, All Even, 7s and 9s).One notable point is the use of some adult-oriented slang in a few points throughout the book. Being like-minded, I actually enjoyed this and felt it made the puzzles a little more contemporary. But as it says on the back, it's not for the squeamish.
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Summary: Get hooked
Review: Henry Hook is one of the most devious and creative cryptic constructors in the world, and these collections show that he can be among the most prolific, too. Although there are some puzzles here that are pleasantly solvable, there are some that will challenge even the most jaded cryptic aficionado. And Hook's trickery depends on forcing solvers to look at words and letters in new ways, but his clues always play fair -- no mismatch of tense or parts of speech, no extraneous words, and no words used twice (once in the definition and once in the wordplay) -- errors that some other constructors, even very well-regarded ones, allow themselves with regularity.
Rating:
Summary: Get hooked
Review: Henry Hook is one of the most devious and creative cryptic constructors in the world, and these collections show that he can be among the most prolific, too. Although there are some puzzles here that are pleasantly solvable, there are some that will challenge even the most jaded cryptic aficionado. And Hook's trickery depends on forcing solvers to look at words and letters in new ways, but his clues always play fair -- no mismatch of tense or parts of speech, no extraneous words, and no words used twice (once in the definition and once in the wordplay) -- errors that some other constructors, even very well-regarded ones, allow themselves with regularity.
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Summary: Up to the Henry standard.
Review: Henry's puzzles operate at a level of sophistication comparable to that of the finest British cryptics, but the references are refreshingly familiar to North American solvers. No more agonizing over clues only to find the answer to be the name of a village in Northamptonshire. Instead, references to baseball, rock & roll, movies. Great fun, every bit the equal of his previous book, and that was one of my great finds.
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Summary: Great books
Review: I just discovered Henry Hook after many years of doing the Harper's Puzzle by Richard Maltby, Jr. These are excellent cryptics, and great fun to do. If you like the Harper's puzzle you will love these. Very very hard.
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Summary: Better than ever
Review: It is hard to explain how Henry Hook does it! Year after year and book after book he continues to produce ever more challenging Cryptics. This book is the best Cryptic collection yet!
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Summary: Hook is the best!
Review: The most varied and interesting of cryptic puzzlers, Hook surpasses himself in this last edition. But when will we see a new one?
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Summary: Cryptics for the American solver
Review: These cryptics are excellent for the solver who does not dwell in the abstruse depths of the English language. The structural ingenuity is very good, and the "tricks" are usually quite fair. The whole series of Henry Hook' cryptics is to be recommended -- but not for beginners.
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Summary: Enjoyably Maddening
Review: This third volume differs little from either of the first two, right down to the cover design (the big 3 is the only difference). All three cater to to the champion solver, those used to cryptic crosswords, and not to the uninitiated (who may wish to pick up Random House's Guide to Cryptic Crosswords instead.) The puzzles are all playful, with both simple and complex variations. Expect to take several days to fully solve some puzzles (esp. Drop and Roll), but only a few minutes to solver others (Cryptocryptic, which contained a typo).
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