Crossword Genius

Bad-tempered whine about a couple of books (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

crabby

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'bad-tempered' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'whine about a couple of books' is the wordplay.
'a couple of books' can mean two substitutions for 'book'.
'whine' becomes 'cray' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'book' becomes 'b' (abbreviation for book).
'book' becomes 'b' (abbreviation for book).
'b'+'b'='bb'
'cray' going around 'bb' is 'CRABBY'.

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(Other definitions for crabby that I've seen before include "Ill-natured" , "In bad temper" , "Lrritable, bad-tempered" , "Bad-tempered, morose" , "like one playing with sea? Just so" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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