HolyGhost

I am rather fond of puzzles by Ifor, and hope that this one won’t disappoint.   Preamble: One across clue in each row contains an extra word that can suffix a thematic word. … Read more >>

The Ace of Hearts makes his (almost) annual appearance.   Preamble: From the answer to each clue a letter must be deleted wherever it appears before entry into the grid; Definitions refer to … Read more >>

Skylark completes the quartet in “Ladies’ Month” (though there is room for another one this April).  Preamble: Every clue but one contains an extra letter which should be removed before solving. In order, … Read more >>

Nimrod – aah, our esteemed editor. I hope I fare better with this than with his previous offering (#1721 Hole), my greatest failure to date.   Preamble: Clues – all normal – are … Read more >>

Botox: new? Maybe not: the Listener crossword website says “see Artix & Shark”.   Preamble: Bracketed numbers indicate spaces available but three unchecked cells must initially contain more than one letter. A pair … Read more >>

Check – the third of four new setters in a row.   Preamble: Clues are listed in conventional order. Bars (displaying 180° symmetry) and clue numbering are not required. Two cells are initially … Read more >>

I was fully expecting Harribobs at this time of year, but instead up pops Lato (as indeed he did last year).   Preamble: Nine unclued entries, one of two words and one a … Read more >>

Ifor, and a rather asymmetrical grid.   Preamble: The clue to one entry in each row and each column contains an extra word. Each is primarily associated with a single letter from a … Read more >>

Kruger’s 50th Inquisitor puzzle.   Preamble: Seventeen clues contain an extra word that must be removed before solving. In clue order, the first or fourth letters of each extra word followed by the … Read more >>

I’ve found puzzles by Eclogue quite variable in the past. Some excellent, some only so-so; some difficult, some not so hard. (And no correlation between the two.)   Preamble: Wordplay in 18 clues … Read more >>

Vagans – a newbie.   Preamble: A serious ascent is being made, in three stages, which requires excess baggage to be shed. Wordplay in 25 clues generates an extra letter not to be … Read more >>

Kruger – a week late for kenmac to add to his duels with the setter.   Preamble: In twenty clues, some or all of the definition has been jumbled with an extra letter. … Read more >>

Skylark, the third of four female setters in Ladies’ month (although this July has five Saturdays so there’s room for one more).   Preamble: Symmetrical grid entries contain the endings of four lines … Read more >>

Eclogue averages about three Inquisitor puzzles a year of late.   Preamble: When read in clue order, the last letters of extraneous words in every clue provide a partial definition and visual context … Read more >>