| KEATING | H R F -, author of 2008 novel Inspector Ghote's First Case (7) |
| RUTHRENDELL | English author best known for the 24-novel Inspector Wexford series, published from 1964 to 2013 (4,7) |
| TRIBORO | ___ Bridge (former name of New York's R.F.K. Bridge) |
| HEINEY | Rose ?, author of 2008 novel The Days of Judy B |
| GATISS | Mark ___, actor-writer; author of 2008 novel Black Butterfly (6) |
| HELLER | Zoe ___, author of 2008 novel The Believers (6) |
| TOMROBSMITH | Author of 2008 novel Child 44 (3,3,5) |
| THESHERIFFOF | 1984 novel by H R F Keating (3,7,2,6) |
| SPRAGUE | Howard ___, "Mayberry R.F.D." character |
| BENSON | E. F. -; author of the Mapp and Lucia series of novels set in the fictional seaside town of Tilling (6) |
| ANSTEY | F., author of the 1882 novel Vice Versa (6) |
| ADIGA | Aravind -, author of 2008 Booker Prize-winning novel The White Tiger (5) |
| INEPT | First case of needle point being cack-handed? (5) |
| MASTEROFSCIENCE | Person with a degree employs me once first case collapses (6,2,7) |
| ONEL | Memoir in which the author compared reading his first case to "stirring concrete with my eyelashes" |
| SECEDE | Leave court after winning custody at first case of divorce (6) |
| PATIENTZERO | Forgiving zip on first case? (7,4) |
| TENT | Ends first case in court that was well pitched presumably (4) |
| ETUI | Error before Tuesday with investigator's first case (4) |
| WUHAN | City where the first cases of COVID-19 were reported |
