HolyGhost

Started on cryptic crosswords as a late teenager and completed the Times daily until the Independent started. (Didn't do the crossword - just stopped reading the Times.) Often tackled the Independent weekend magazine crossword in the early and late 1990s (spent mid-90s in Bruxelles), and then most of them since moving out of London in summer 2000. I must say that my forays into the Listener used to prove more satisfying (except the number ones) - estimate 98% successful - but usually don't have enough discretionary time for both. Now that the Listener and the Inquisitor seem pretty level I rarely stray from tackling only the latter.

Inquisitor 1420: Coming Through by Phi

Wed January 20, 2016 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

The second puzzle of the year, and another prolific IQ setter – Phi, current runner-up to Sch … you know who. Preamble: Apart from 1ac and 18 (normal), each clue is actually … Read more >>

Inquisitor index: 2016

Tue April 8, 2025 at 12:23 pmFri January 1, 2016 at 1:23 am by HolyGhost

Puzzles 1419 – 1471

Inquisitor 1416: Can Henry? by Kruger

Wed December 23, 2015 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

A carte blanche grid, so no bars and no numbers, but at least the clues have length indications and are in normal order. However, two entries are unclued, and there are a few … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1412: The Great Divide by Wan

Sat November 28, 2015 at 4:56 pmWed November 25, 2015 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

Seen Wan here a couple of times before, most recently on the Pennine Way (“Pub Crawl”). First noted the asymmetric grid … more often a positive indicator of a puzzle than a negative … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1408: Assumptions by Radler

Wed October 28, 2015 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

We’ve seen Radler about once a year since his debut in 2013 (theme: QUARKs). Preamble: Eight clues lead to answers that are the wrong size: they must be used to fill the … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1404: Rise and Fall by Nutmeg

Sat October 3, 2015 at 3:30 pmWed September 30, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

I have a soft spot for Nutmeg‘s puzzles; typical clues are polished gems. Preamble: Down answers are entered with one letter out of place, that letter being moved to the shaded upper/lower … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1400: Beat the Clock by Nimrod

Wed September 2, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

Nimrod‘s bagging #1400 with his 13th Inquisitor – unlucky for some? Hope not. Preamble: Corrections to single-letter misprints in the definition part of each down clue in order hint at Theme A. … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1396: Artwork by Hieroglyph

Wed August 5, 2015 at 7:48 pmWed August 5, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

A debut in the Inquisitor for Hieroglyph, but apparently he’s set puzzles in The Independent and elsewhere. Preamble (paraphrase): There are two sorts of clue apart from the ordinary ones: in one … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1392: Mistakes by Gila

Wed July 8, 2015 at 8:53 amWed July 8, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

A 10×15 grid for this week’s offering from Gila. (So the two side by side grids with the solution to #1390 fitted neatly underneath.) Preamble: Mistakes appear in twenty-three clues in the … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1388: To All the Girls from Triton

Thu June 11, 2015 at 10:22 amWed June 10, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

A new setter this week. “Hello, …” Preamble: The definition parts of thirty-one clues contain a superfluous letter which should be removed before solving. Read in clue order, the three discrete groups … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1384: Blowing by Chalicea

Wed May 13, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

One week she’s the Listener setter, next Chalicea‘s providing the Inquisitor puzzle. Preamble: Groups of cells (49 in all), identified by corrections to misprints in the definition parts of 26 clues read … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1380: Serpent Is as Serpent Does by Serpent

Thu April 16, 2015 at 2:26 pmWed April 15, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

Serpent slithers into view – venomous? We’ll see. Preamble: Solvers must determine how to enter the answers to across clues, listed in alphabetical order of their (equal-length) answers. Taken in clue order, … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1376: Target by Dysart

Wed March 18, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

Fond memories of Dysart puzzles – usually pretty tough but highly enjoyable & satisfying. Preamble: Five characters involved in a 6 18 are hidden in the grid. Their target is invisible, but … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1372: After the Main Event by Nudd

Wed February 18, 2015 at 11:14 amWed February 18, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

Haven’t seen a puzzle from Nudd in quite a while – none in 2014. Preamble: Wordplay in thirty-six clues serves up an extra letter to be taken away before entry. These letters … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1368: Off and On by Nutmeg

Wed January 21, 2015 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

Nutmeg‘s “Any other Name” came equal fourth in 2014, and her puzzles rank among my personal favourites. A small grid: 11×11. One letter must be omitted from the first eight across answers, … Read more >>