The shortcut answers, in clue order, are
- HOLSTERS
- BASKETRY
- AMERICAN
- FIRST ACT
- CASTANETS
- ELECTION
- ROSE RED
- BARMAIDS
These can be found in the grid only by going through a wall while inserting two letters. In path order, the letters added are ST, RI, CT, TA, SK, MA, ST, and ER. The answer to the puzzle is STRICT TASKMASTER.
| C | H | O | L | E | R | A | L | A | M | A | N | A | V | E |
| A | N | O | D | E | S | T | I | N | E | C | H | E | F | S |
| P | O | U | T | S | C | I | T | Y | P | E | A | R | L | Y |
| T | I | D | E | P | A | P | A | C | Y | L | A | T | K | E |
| A | L | B | E | E | L | A | S | E | D | E | N | I | E | R |
| S | L | A | T | S | S | E | N | I | L | E | R | O | L | E |
| T | R | E | N | D | S | T | E | T | E | I | F | N | O | T |
| O | C | T | E | T | P | E | T | S | A | T | T | E | S | T |
| A | W | R | Y | R | U | M | B | A | S | P | A | D | R | E |
| T | O | R | S | O | P | E | L | T | S | S | T | I | P | E |
| B | A | R | O | N | S | F | I | C | U | S | R | O | D | S |
| B | R | I | D | E | S | E | R | A | R | U | S | S | E | T |
| S | A | C | S | B | I | D | E | T | P | L | A | I | D | S |