Crossword Genius

Crime author speaks about that woman losing husband (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sayers

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'crime author speaks about that woman losing husband' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'crime author speaks about that' is the wordplay.
'crime author' becomes 'er' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'speaks' becomes 'says' (I've seen this in other clues).
'about that' is an insertion indicator.
'er' placed inside 'says' is 'SAYERS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sayers that I've seen before include "detective story writer" , "Detective fiction author, d. 1957" , "they announce" , "Peig and Dorothy L." , "Dorothy L. --, novelist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app