---
product_id: 286757448
title: "Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem"
price: "R560"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/286757448-cains-jawbone-a-novel-problem
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem

**Price:** R560
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem
- **How much does it cost?** R560 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/286757448-cains-jawbone-a-novel-problem)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Description

Buy Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem 1 by Ernest Powys Mathers (ISBN: 9781800180796) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Review: Seems easy but so not - Brilliant
Review: Even more difficult than when originally publihed - Lovers of cryptic crosswords owe a lot to Torquemada, who laid the groundwork for the modern version. Ximenean rules on clueing were yet to come - so we have a great many 'unfair' clues, which may not contain both a definition and a cryptic indication, may be a quotation (often very obscure), and may have a topical allusion lost on a modern solver. In particular, the setter felt no obligation to encourage successful solving. Some ideas are still used occasionally such as narrative cluing and 'knock knock' clues, but clues such as indirect anagrams and vague definitions are now frowned on. We are given the year of original appearance - but some clues need the precise date to solve readily. The vocabulary is often obscure, but so it should be. It's more fun to attempt these using only reference books, but solving any puzzle completely will take a very long time for most of us (so you get your money's worth) as the first pass through the clues will usually result in only one or two solutions. A wonderful collection for the enthusiast.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 52,499 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 175 in Indoor Games 607 in Brain Teaser Games 2,041 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery |
| Customer reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (4,384) |
| Dimensions  | 10.8 x 1.91 x 17.15 cm |
| Edition  | 1st |
| ISBN-10  | 1800180799 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1800180796 |
| Item weight  | 1.05 kg |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 100 pages |
| Publication date  | 8 July 2021 |
| Publisher  | Unbound |

## Images

![Cain's Jawbone: A Novel Problem - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A13UPPN+IuL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Seems easy but so not
*by B***D on 6 July 2025*

Brilliant

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Even more difficult than when originally publihed
*by T***L on 13 June 2024*

Lovers of cryptic crosswords owe a lot to Torquemada, who laid the groundwork for the modern version. Ximenean rules on clueing were yet to come - so we have a great many 'unfair' clues, which may not contain both a definition and a cryptic indication, may be a quotation (often very obscure), and may have a topical allusion lost on a modern solver. In particular, the setter felt no obligation to encourage successful solving. Some ideas are still used occasionally such as narrative cluing and 'knock knock' clues, but clues such as indirect anagrams and vague definitions are now frowned on. We are given the year of original appearance - but some clues need the precise date to solve readily. The vocabulary is often obscure, but so it should be. It's more fun to attempt these using only reference books, but solving any puzzle completely will take a very long time for most of us (so you get your money's worth) as the first pass through the clues will usually result in only one or two solutions. A wonderful collection for the enthusiast.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ mind boggling
*by J***R on 28 January 2025*

really good mind boggling puzzle, not cracked it yet but had a group of friends round for drinks and spent hours trying solve it

## Frequently Bought Together

- Cain's Jawbone
- A Walk in the Wood: Meditations on Mindfulness with a Bear Named Pooh
- Murdle: Volume 1 (Murdle, 1)

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*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-03-12*