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 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 >>

Inquisitor index: 2015

Tue April 8, 2025 at 12:22 pmThu January 1, 2015 at 1:23 am by HolyGhost

Puzzles 1367 – 1418

Inquisitor 1364: Find the Word by Phi

Mon December 29, 2014 at 11:39 pmWed December 24, 2014 at 12:01 am by HolyGhost

A carte blanche grid, so no bars and no numbers. And the clues have neither numbers nor length indications, nor are they in normal order or in alphabetical order of answers. Thanks, Phi. … Read more >>