Cryptic crossword No 3,225

There is a history to this puzzle:

Haha that's a lot of stuff going on, which, as ever, I did not spot! Still, lots of delight here: 10a,22a,27a,32a, 2d,8d,19d,26d among my faves. Thanks, PM!

Thanks PostMark for another gem. I solved this over breakfast without much angst though I verified a few of my answers and I couldn't parse 8d and 24d. I had many favourites including 11a, 27a, 6d, 7d, 15d, 17d, and 26d. More in reply.

Your January puzzle was the first I attempted but I was too timid to comment then. Now I can confidently say this is one of the best puzzles I’ve met on MyC. So much to learn from! Beautifully crafted surfaces gilding wonderful wordplay. Some great eye-opening indicators like corrective training 8d, in collision 27a (a noun!), covered maiden 14a, more than you need 24d. As to the theme, I couldn’t get my little finger round it! Faves: 1a, 3a, 12a, 13a, 16a, 18a, 2d, 8d, 17d, 25d. Thank you!

Lovely stuff as per PM and I agree with everything Sisyphus said. I guessed the theme quite quickly after 10a (i was also reminded of one of your prevous puzzles last July). For me there were a few tough ones in this and a couple I had to check... however I've picked up a few new construction ideas along the way, and CE - 'common entrance', who knew?! Overall a pleasure to solve and faves are 13a, 14a, 16a, 27a, 31a, 6d, 8d, 19d, 32a, thank you BN

Hi PostMark, thanks for this excellent crossword. It took me quite a few goes to get everything not helped by guessing the wrong theme (something of a menagerie 12a). As others have said lots of inventive and delightful wordplay and surfaces. My top picks probably 27a, 1d and 19d. Cheers!

Thanks PM, top stuff. Faves include 13a, 21a, 29a, 30a, 32a, 5d, 6d & 19d. Theme turned out to be helpful too. Thanks again 🙂

Thanks again PM. I got a bit delayed in finishing my reply. Particular favorites were 10a, 12a, 16a, 29a, 9d, 12d, and a theme that prompted me to revisit a Tori Amos album from the year of my high school graduation.

Top stuff PM, thanks, and a lovely tribute to the much missed FrankieG. Even I managed to spot the theme, albeit not all of the themers. You won’t be surprised to learn that I found this tough, solved over 3 sessions. But no reveals and only one use of a crossword solver. Favourites: 16a, 29a, 32a, 4d, 6d and 15d.

This was a wonderful, tricky, and very impressively themed puzzle. I took a fair bash before resigning myself to revealing a couple of clues, but its all good learning for me. Favourites were 14a, 33a, 18a (new definition of the word for me!) and 19d. Thanks :)