There are two important Crossword Puzzles in The Rothko Room.  The one printed here is by "Hebe"  and contains what we learn is a "Treasure Island Pointer" - a simple message telling the Cleaner to make for a certain location.  The second puzzle is actually at the back of the novel (both paperback and e-book.  Incidentally, a prize may be won by following the links on the Home Page.

A word of caution as found in the frontispiece of The Rothko Room:

Note on the Crossword:

The author is not Colin Dexter.  Nor is he anything approaching a professional crossword compiler.  The crossword at the end of the book is just to give readers a flavour of the “Luscinia” puzzle, by which Arthur and Bracewell stumble upon the code.  The author is also aware that some of the clues are, frankly, not terribly good and that there are many “unchecked” solutions (or “unchies” as the  aficionadi refer to them).  If the reader is likely to be upset by the deficiencies evident in the crossword, the author respectfully suggests that he/she should not attempt it.



Picture
Across

    3  See 37 Down

    9  The sound of 21, perhaps, may stop His  Majesty from entering East End borough (7)

  12  Amicable split leaves French friend with no tie. (3)

  13  Opulence without clue not closed (4)

  15  A beach in Central London? (6)

  16  Wanting existence? (9)

  17  It's slippery going with the wind backwards. (3)

  18  Slightly twisted shard of precious metal, maybe? (6)

  20  See 43

  21  Messy assailant loses Asia then slopes away (5)

  22  Branch of United Nations that deals with removal of weapons? (5)

  26  Even a good seat needs a good seat. (6)

  27  Magic spell or just a code? (3)

  29  Take Little Dot up the Shard?  Best day ever! (4,4)

  30  Lean towards a Roman script? (6)

  32  Mix up closes markets. (5)

  34  Set out and stop abruptly. (5)

  35  Somewhere to store artist? (6)

  36  Tangled up in ropes with little chance of release. (8)

  39  Initially, left wing historian. (3)

  41  Queen Elizabeth follows art. Why? Because it comes from the heart! (6)

  42  A fountain pen for 30, perhaps? (5)

43/20   Dark cur!  Back gold for a good return. (5,3)

  46  Euphemistic reform? The Unions are upset. (3)

  48  Divorcees I've taken out and had to adjust beliefs. (6)

  49  Norway? No way it's conditional. (3)

  50  One could be excused for thinking it might be used on a fingernail. (9)

  52  Confised blabbering but with no clamour. (6)

  54  Grating element in American Football (8)

  55  Ear, Nose and Throat department initially takes on disturbed teen and develops an understanding. (7)

  56  Sounds like someone tripped up whilst speaking. (3)
Down

    1  He's a hard skipper! (7,5)

    2  Gumbo. Fine fellow of the Royal Academy. (4)

    4  National Trust follows Post Office over river in 11? (4)

5/7  No gentlemen turned up isolated tile in there! (6,6)

    6  See 25

    8  So elated but upset leaves one in utter despair. (8)

  10  Disgraced tycoon is as low as you can get. (5)

  11  Mixed pairs in Troy? (5)

  14  Playwright refused entry. (4)

  19  24 certainly not produced by 40 in London district. (8)

  23  Swiss lap dances. (3)

  24  Engine sounds like tea in a messy room. (5)

25/6 Carriage clock gone a bit flat? (7,9)

  26  We hear a wait and see policy is in order for Rothko commission. (7)

  28  Of Charles of Monaco? (8)

  31  Putin confused over jargonistic contribution to meeting. (5)

  33  Vote for Rumanian domain dish? (12)

37/3 Bi-polar headgear possibly left in picnic area ruined from rain? (3,3)

  38  Lies and deceit? We'll deal with Archer, yet (9)

  40  Car follows commonplace American chap to Hollywood.  To make Westerns, perhaps? (4,4)

  43  Force ten blows itself out by and large. Time for a large one, we reckon. (6)

  44  Dress for the Mikado but badly? No, I'm OK. (6)

  45  A hundred not right? Could be a split. (5)

  47  Rest shaken up but very French. (4)

  48  Californian trashcan.  In the woods, possibly? (5)

  51  Sweet'art? (4)

  53  Colour of the wind? (4)