Uncover the Explosive Plot: Gunpowder ___ Crossword Answer Revealed

As a detective, I first consider the number of letters in the answer which is five. Then I look at the additional clue, ‘1605 English conspiracy’. My knowledge of history reminds me of the infamous Gunpowder Plot in which Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London on November 5th, 1605. The word ‘gunpowder‘ in the clue indicates the involvement of explosives. The word ‘conspiracy‘ suggests that this was a plot hatched in secret. Putting all these pieces together, I confidently fill in the answer as ‘PLOT‘. The use of the word ‘gunpowder‘ is an appropriate description of the explosive element while ‘PLOT‘ perfectly captures the clandestine nature of the conspiracy. Thus, I successfully solve the mystery of the crossword clue.