| PENKNIFE | One writing grand, fine novel - one with cutting edge (8) |
| SHRINKINGVIOLET | Family gripped by his revolting novel, one with a limited circulation? (9,6) |
| CULBOKIE | Where in Scotland? Clue - big, but not grand - ok, maybe? (8) |
| OLIPHANT | Eleanor - is Completely Fine; novel by Gail Honeyman (8) |
| ANALEMMA | A learner into an Austen novel -- one displays 'sunny' disposition (8) |
| RESIGNED | Philosophical novel one ends eg with hint of realism |
| COMPOSER | Morse cop novel one writes in bars (8) |
| NICHOLLS | David ___, author noted for his 2009 novel One Day (8) |
| NIGHTOWL | With long novel one's late to bed (5,3) |
| OPERATED | Worked in the theatre with cutting responses (8) |
| FLAMINGO | Old lover dumped sweetheart with cutting lingo? What a long-legged bird! (8) |
| RIBALDRY | Ridicule Capone with cutting irreverent language (8) |
| ICEWATER | Write ace novel - one that will chill those on the beach (3,5) |
| KENKESEY | Author of 1962 novel One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest |
| CHAINSAW | Tool with cutting teeth (5,3) |
| BUSHNELL | Candace ?, author of novels One Fifth Avenue and Lipstick Jungle |
| NAILFILE | Not the first to trouble record as anyone with cutting edge stuff will have one (4,4) |
| SHARPEI | China dog with cutting edge on peak of Easter Island (4,3) |
| INCISOR | Something with cutting edge at front of trap (7) |
| HACKSAW | Journalist spotted something with cutting edge |
