| 100% | SAWYER | 6 | He appears in four novels by Mark Twain: Tom __ |
| 49% | INJUNJOE | 8 | Villain in 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain |
| 48% | PUDDNHEAD | 9 | & 21A 1894 novel by Mark Twain set in the town of Dawson's Landing |
| 42% | SAWYER | 6 | "The Adventures of Tom ___," novel by Mark Twain |
| 38% | ISHEDEAD | 8 | 1898 play by Mark Twain that opened on Broadway in 2007 |
| 37% | TOMSAWYER | 9 | Mark Twain's character, appears in 4 of his books |
| 37% | THEPRINCEANDTHEPAUPER | 21 | Mark Twain novel whose plot is encapsulated in this puzzle |
| 37% | LOCKEDON | 8 | 2011 novel by Tom Clancy with Mark Greaney |
| 36% | EVESDIARY | 9 | Mark Twain tale narrated in the first person by a noted first woman |
| 35% | ROUGHINGIT | 10 | 1872 semi-autobiographical work by Mark Twain describing his travels in Nevada, California and the Sandwich Islands |
| 34% | ADRIENBRODY | 11 | Oscar-winning actor who has appeared in four movies directed by 40-Across, including "The French Dispatch" (2 wds.) |
| 33% | GONE | 4 | "___ Tomorrow" 2009 novel by Lee Child in which Jack Reacher investigates the death of Susan Mark |
| 32% | PAUPER | 6 | Tom Canty, in a Mark Twain book |
| 32% | TOM | 3 | Sawyer created by Mark Twain |
| 32% | SLEEPYHEAD | 10 | 2001 novel by Mark Billingham |
| 32% | LIFELESS | 8 | 2005 novel by Mark Billingham |
| 32% | HUCKLEBERRY | 11 | "Adventures of ___ Finn," satirical novel written by Mark Twain which is a direct sequel to the "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" |
| 31% | AHSIN | 5 | Play co-authored by Mark Twain |
| 31% | VESUVIUSCLUB | 12 | The —, 2004 novel by Mark Gatiss |
| 31% | DEATH | 5 | & 14D 2007 novel by Mark Billingham |
| 31% | ASPOT | 5 | & 7A 2006 novel by Mark Haddon |
| 31% | RUSH | 4 | & 4D 2012 novel by Mark Billingham |
| 31% | FALSTAFF | 8 | This character appears in four Shakespeare plays |
| 31% | SAWYER | 6 | Mark Twain's character Tom |
| 30% | ATIMEFORMERCY | 13 | 2020 novel by 41-Across that features lawyer Jake Brigance, who last appeared in the 2013 novel "Sycamore Row" (4 wds.) |
| 30% | THEEXCHANGE | 11 | 2023 novel by 41-Across that features lawyer Mitch McDeere, who first appeared in the 1991 novel "The Firm" (2 wds.) |
| 30% | KILGORETROUT | 12 | Fictional novelist who appears in several novels by 41-Across, including "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Breakfast of Champions" (2 wds.) |