After a tough workout with an Enigmatist last time out, a relatively gentle impaling by Vlad…
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Spectator 2760: Metalwork by Madrigal
Another circular Spectator puzzle – fairly rare I believe, so interesting to see two come along in quite close succession, after Fieldfare’s 2754 with Dante’s circles of Hell…looks like Madrigal is asking us to do some METALWORK this time…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1755: Advertising Ploy by The Moonlighters
‘The Moonlighters‘ sounds like a potential composite setter…some familiar faces ‘moonlighting’ as a merry ensemble? Time, and the comments section, may tell… Either way, this is a debut puzzle, as far as I can tell…and what are ‘they’ ADVERTISING to us?…
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 30,056 by Enigmatist (11 July 2026)
Ah, an Enigmatist Prize puzzle on my blogging slot – that familiar pang of fear in the pit of the stomach, and the instinctive rush of fight-or-flight adrenalin!
Spectator 2756: 2B or not 2B? by Fire
Are Fire taking us into ‘Shakespearean pun’ territory or the stationery cupboard – that is the question…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1751: In The Dock by Karla
I think I’d rather be put IN THE DOCK by Karla than Kafka…but after a quick-ish start this turned out to be a bit of a ‘Trial‘…
Spectator 2752: Double trouble by Doc
Doc had me in (DOUBLE) TROUBLE here, as I couldn’t quite get to the end of this puzzle before the deadline…and I have just realised the error of my ways while typing up the blog…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1747: Group Of Four by Ifor
After DNFs in the previous two EVs, I was hoping for something nice and gentle for my turn to blog…reader: be careful what you wish Ifor!
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 30,008 by Pangakupu (16 May 2026)
I believe this is my first blog of a Grauniad ‘Pangakupu‘ puzzle, although I have met his alter ego in many a ‘Kcit‘ EV and a few ‘Phi‘ Indy Saturday Prize puzzles…
Spectator 2748: What’s in a name? – II by Madrigal
Apologies for the delay in publication of the blog – enjoy!…
Guardian Genius 274 by KGB
I had been on tenterhooks since the Magpie get-together in January, where KGB informed me he had the April Genius slot, and I started having traumatic flashbacks to his previous one (Genius 265, the ‘redaction puzzle‘)…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1743: Moral Tale by Stick Insect
Does Stick Insect have some sort of cautionary TALE to tell this week?…
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 29,984 by Imogen (18 April 2026)
Like London buses, you wait ages for an Imogen Prize puzzle to blog, and then two come along in quick order… Lucky me…this one is a treat…
Spectator 2744: Fiddles by Fire
Something to do with FIDDLES from Fire this week – of the musical kind? the financial kind?…