Crossword Genius

Defoe and Boone, say, or maybe Paul (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

daniels

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'or maybe paul' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'defoe and boone' is the wordplay.
'defoe' becomes 'Daniel' (as in the author Daniel Defoe).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'boone' becomes 's' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'daniel'+'s'='DANIELS'

'say' acts as a link.

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I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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