Pete, the only reason I keep tagging you on this stuff is because you seem to be our resident Cryptic Crossword expert, though I don't even know that question three has any cryptic elements. He said that part two does, but I can't get a handle on anything in that jumble whatsoever.
:P
There's a crude answer of 'confectioner' on the question, which Nyk has said is VERY CLOSE. It might be a good place to start from
Yes I'm unsure whether there's a cryptic element. As for confectioner, Nyk goes on to say "you have the right approach, just not the right words", so all I can assume is that the right answer has something sweet / sugary about it.
For anyone who joins, the real important hint is: "The first half of the first stanza, first line of the third,as well as the second, are clues as to the riddle's answer. The third line in the first stanza, from 3-1, and the rest of the third, from 1-3, gives hints as to the 3 words that together make up the solution, in the order given."
so the first word is something to do with a surly cook and a piece of pie
the second word is something to do with a crook and a rude crude man
the third word is something to do with a book and a real clean freak
I can't get a handle on a single one. I feel like if I could figure out one the rest could fall into place
