Stumped by this crossword clue? Unveiling the hidden secret…

As a detective, I carefully scrutinize every detail in order to crack the case. To solve the crossword clue “Having initial success… as suggested by the beginnings of 17-, 24-, 47-, and 60-Across,” I start by analyzing the clue itself. The reference to “initial success” indicates that I should pay attention to the first letters of the words in the relevant entries. Taking a closer look at the grid, I observe that clues numbered 17, 24, 47, and 60 all have their first words capitalized in the Across direction.

Now, I begin to extract the first letters from each of those entries, a common practice in crossword puzzles. As I put the letters together, a pattern starts to emerge. The letters spell out “OFTOAGOODSTART“. Suddenly, it hits me like a lightning bolt: “OFF TO A GOOD START.”

The answer “OFFTOAGOODSTART” perfectly captures the essence of the initial success being described in the crossword clue. It tells a story of beginning something with positive momentum, a crucial factor in many endeavors. This cryptic clue not only challenged my deductive reasoning skills, but it also showcased the beauty of language manipulation and how seemingly disparate pieces can come together to form a coherent and satisfactory conclusion.