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HolyGhost's avatarHolyGhost

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 1592: Clue Two IV by eXternal

Sat March 27, 2021 at 11:14 amWed May 8, 2019 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

First it was the Labyrinth (#1335), then Hampton Court (#1457), and a couple of years ago we had a maze based on the legend of King Henry II and his mistress Rosamund (#1490) … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 22 Comments

Inquisitor 1588: Odd One Out by eXtent

Wed April 10, 2019 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

There have been a couple of Inquisitor puzzles from eXtent since we had a solo effort from either of them – but that’s OK.   Preamble: Wordplay in 21 clues omits a letter … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 9 Comments

Inquisitor 1584: I Give You … by Jetdoc

Sat January 11, 2020 at 7:38 pmWed March 13, 2019 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

A setter new to the Inquisitor, and who, as it happens, is ‘in partnership’ with the editor. (It turns out that she is not the setter, but that it was some “Mr H”. … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 27 Comments

Inquisitor 1580: Blank Face by Gila

Wed February 13, 2019 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

I’ve blogged 3 of the last 4 IQ puzzles from Gila, and he ranks pretty highly in my estimation. The grid looks a little daunting (no bars, no clue numbers), to say nothing … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 15 Comments

Inquisitor 1576: YNTHFYHFTTF HTTL by Schadenfreude

Wed January 16, 2019 at 12:12 pmWed January 16, 2019 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

As trailed by Nimrod in his review of last year, we are kicking off this year with a puzzle from Schadenfreude. The last time I saw a title like that was about a … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 19 Comments

Inquisitor index: 2019

Tue April 8, 2025 at 12:25 pmTue January 1, 2019 at 1:23 am by HolyGhost

Puzzles 1576 – 1627

Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor Index

Inquisitor 1572: All Change by Nimrod

Mon October 28, 2019 at 11:25 amWed December 19, 2018 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

The third Inquisitor puzzle this year from Nimrod.   Preamble: From each of twelve clues a single letter must be removed before solving. Taken together, these letters describe twelve other clues into each … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 18 Comments

Inquisitor 1568: Such Delight by Chalicea

Wed November 21, 2018 at 10:00 pmWed November 21, 2018 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

Chalicea often serves up clues that are on the easy side, followed by a task that involves a certain amount of head-scratching whilst staring at a completed grid.  Preamble: Identifying one thematically placed … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 19 Comments

Inquisitor 1564: Soft Tube by Schadenfreude

Wed October 24, 2018 at 7:57 amWed October 24, 2018 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

Sch… is never away long – it seems like one in every 8 to 10 puzzles is his.   Preamble: Two letters must be removed from the answers in each row and column … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 10 Comments

Inquisitor 1560: Phase Shift by Phi

Wed September 26, 2018 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

The umpteenth Inquisitor from Phi …   Preamble: The key phases of the moon here are 1st Quarter, 3rd Quarter and Full. 4-, 8- and 12-letter entries suffer a Phase Shift: the wordplay … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 17 Comments

Inquisitor 1556: Pause for Thought by The Ace of Hearts

Wed August 29, 2018 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

The second Inquisitor from The Ace of Hearts, and the first was a ‘Letters Latent’ too.   Preamble: Seven clues are normal but their answers must be entered thematically. From the answer to … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 13 Comments

Inquisitor 1552: Floors by eXtent

Sat August 25, 2018 at 12:51 pmWed August 1, 2018 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

The fourth Inquisitor offered jointly by eXt(ternal + Serp)ent.   Preamble: Each clue contains a misprint of one letter; the pairs of incorrect and correct letters, in clue order, spell out four lines … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 9 Comments

Inquisitor 1548: Round Robbin’ by Ifor

Wed July 4, 2018 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

Ifor usually presents us with challenging puzzles. This was no exception.   Preamble: Clues are presented in alphabetical order of their answers, which must be entered normally and where they will fit. When … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 24 Comments

Inquisitor 1544: Tina Turner (Not) by Serpent

Wed June 6, 2018 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

We get an Inquisitor puzzle from Serpent about twice a year, sometimes quite hard, often quite fun.   Preamble: Four symmetrically-placed across clues have standard wordplay and definitions. In each of the remaining … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 11 Comments

Inquisitor 1540: Hand Out by Nitsy

Wed May 9, 2018 at 1:02 pmWed May 9, 2018 at 12:00 am by HolyGhost

Two previous Inquisitor puzzles have had the byline Nitsy … but they were in 2007 & 2009 – that’s certainly a while back.   Preamble: Thirteen clues contain no definitions: the answers to … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 11 Comments
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