I know I miss helping out with some hints because I don't have the book with me at the time and while I can often give advice without it, I can't always do so.

If there's anyone stuck on something which I haven't responded to, then leave a note in this thread.

Again, spoiler tags.

Sounds like you might have the right method but the wrong technique.

Ensure your alignments are correct.

First off, spoiler tags.

I fairly quickly tore through them and was up to all hours on them...

Yes. In succinct, clear terms: There are eight letters. You have seven letters. Six of your letters are correct. One of the letters you have is in the wrong position, meaning you have picked up the wrong one, or gotten it confused somehow. One of your letters is wrong. You are missing a letter. To ...