Puzzles like this one, where the clues given in alphabetical order of their answers, tend to involve a fair amount of cold solving before a tipping point where (if the solver is lucky) everything slots into place. I have a soft spot for them, but the obvious worry is that one will run into difficulty with the cold solving.
Year: 2017
Independent 9,530 by Rodriguez
My first occasion to lock horns with Rodriguez, at least on a blogging day. This one all seemed to go in very smoothly. That the theme was clearly signposted at 27 across certainly … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,535 by MUDD
An excellent fun crossword from MUDD. Several inventive clues and misdirections kept proceedings consistenly interesting !!
Independent 9,529 by Phi
The usual utterly sound and enjoyable crossword from Phi. You can tell how good it is because (although on the easy side for Phi) it presents its fair share of problems while solving, but all the constructions turn out to be very straightforward.
Guardian Cryptic 27,183 by Nutmeg
A tough solve and an enjoyable one – I really liked 22/26ac, 19dn and 23dn. Thanks, Nutmeg
Guardian 27,182 – Boatman
I found this mostly less tricky than usual for Boatman, but still had a bit of trouble finishing off the top half, not helped by the horrible grid, with four almost isolated corners, … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,534 by ALBERICH
A challenging puzzle from Alberich this cold Thurday morning…
Independent 9528 / Tees
A good challenge from Tees today, although there were one or two clues that we struggled with and some new words to check out. We had come across the Gods in 10ac before … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,525 – Armonie
(Easter) Monday Prize Crossword / Apr 17, 2017
Armonie’s puzzle was mostly (but not fully) straightforward. Enjoyable, too.
Financial Times 15,524 by Mudd
Prize Weekend puzzle from the FT of April 15, 2017
Financial Times 15,533 by GOZO
A very enjoyable puzzle to solve and an especially enjoyable one to blog. Thank you Gozo.
Independent 9,527 / Dac
Dac’s latest puzzle has been supplied for our entertainment this Wednesday morning. I actually found this towards the harder end of the Dac spectrum, in that I got off to a flying start … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,181 by Picaroon
A very pleasant solve, as usual, from Picaroon.
Inquisitor 1486: A Man, A Plan by Bics
A short rubric often leads to a hard solve: A man whose name (6) must be highlighted in the completed grid dramatically reduced a problem by controlling its primary causes. The problem, together … Read more >>
Independent 9526 / Hob
A fairly typical Independent puzzle today where you can just solve the clues, but … ELLA FITZGERALD [8 down, 15 down], is a SINGER, [22 down]. Indeed she is referred … Read more >>