Crossword Genius

In France, is one almost beginning to investigate a country? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

estonia

'country?' is the definition.
(European country)

'in france is one almost beginning to investigate a' is the wordplay.
'in france is' becomes 'est' ('is' in French).
'almost' means to remove the last letter (almost the whole word is kept).
'beginning to' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'investigate' is 'i'.
'one' with its final letter removed is 'on'.
'est'+'on'+'i'+'a'='ESTONIA'

(Other definitions for estonia that I've seen before include "Baltic state" , "Baltic republic, capital Tallinn" , "So eat in about here in Northern Europe" , "Republic in northeastern Europe" , "So eat in here in Eastern Europe" .)

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