Everyman 3,830/8 March
It’s been around a year now since the ‘new’ Everyman took over the slot in The Observer. I think he’s settled now into a recognisable style and is producing entertaining and accessible puzzles … Read more >>
Pierre
Guardian Quiptic 1,060/Pan
Pan always provides ‘beginners and those in a hurry’ with a well-constructed and entertaining Quiptic. The NW corner took a bit of teasing out, but the whole puzzle fell out nicely in the … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,058/Hectence
Hectence is a long-standing setter of the Quiptic and can always be relied on to produce an easy-end puzzle that fits the bill for those new to cryptics. This was a pleasing and … Read more >>
Independent 10,410/Tees
Tees in his now customary Monday Indy slot. Bert and Joyce slightly roughed up the setter in their blog of his last puzzle, so just in case his ego needs massaging back into … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,565/23 February
It’s Hoskins. It’s sex. It’s drugs. It’s rock’n’roll. And bodily functions. Which is fine if you like that sort of stuff, but (as we discovered when I blogged a previous Hoskins IoS offering) … Read more >>
Everyman 3,826/9 February
A pleasing puzzle from Everyman for our Sunday morning entertainment. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,056/Matilda
Always a pleasure when I see Matilda’s name on opening up the Quiptic. I found this an entertaining puzzle, with one or two clues requiring a bit of head-scratching; but it was all … Read more >>
Independent 10,392/Vigo
Typically, the Monday Indy is a gentle start to the crosswording week in that paper. This was certainly that: not many anagrams, but plenty of easy-end charades to get you going. One I … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,054/Hectence
Always a pleasure to see Hectence’s name come up when it’s my turn to blog the Quiptic. Another delightful puzzle that fulfils its brief, with some elegant surfaces to enjoy. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,561/Dill
Dill’s third crossword for the Independent on Sunday, and my first encounter with her as a blogger. I enjoyed the puzzle, and even managed to spot the ghost theme, which … Read more >>
Everyman 3,822/12 January
Another sound Sunday puzzle from Everyman. Last week we had different clues in the online and dead-tree versions; this week we have a lack of spacing in some clues where Everyman has chosen … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,052/Anto
Anto’s first offering of 2020, which didn’t have much to recommend it as a Quiptic, in my opinion. As always, you may think otherwise. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double … Read more >>
Independent 10,374/Atrica
We had the pleasure of solving Tees’ two hundredth Indy puzzle in a Monday slot before New Year, but today we have only the third of Atrica’s offerings, so a setter at the … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,050/Carpathian
Apologies for the late blog, but blame the Grauniad, not me. A fine end to the Quiptic year, with a puzzle from Carpathian that does exactly what it says on the tin. For … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,050 – placeholder
This morning’s Guardian Quiptic has not yet appeared on the paper’s website (although the cryptic has). I will be on the case with the blog when it does show its face. Pierre