Independent 9764/Hoskins
No hallucinatory drugs were used in the construction of this blog, but this setter’s past form may have led me to imagine one or two things that aren’t really there. … Read more >>
Pierre
Independent on Sunday 1457/Alchemi
A gentle Sunday solve from Alchemi, with a couple of inventive clues that I particularly liked. The only hold ups were caused by my own muppetry. When you’re trying to solve a clue … Read more >>
Everyman 3718
Plenty of charades, anagrams and insertions. Everyman is in town. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed abbreviations are underlined … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 948/Hectence
A pleasing cryptic from Hectence to herald in the new format Guardian (at least I think it’s today, and the style of the header has changed online). Abbreviations cd … Read more >>
Independent 9746/Vigo
If the editor has decided to continue in 2018 with the tradition of an accessible puzzle in the Monday Indy slot, then he has chosen well here. A very pleasing cryptic from Vigo … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 946/Carpathian
Bonne Année et Bonne Santé! There, that’s my allocation of exclamation marks for 2018 used up. Now onto the first Quiptic of 2018 (or is it?) This puzzle appears on the Guardian … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1453/Morph
So farewell, then, 2017 … as E J Thribb would say. And on the last day of the year, Morph is saying farewell to a number of people who died … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 945
Never a dull moment with the Grauniad. I wasn’t really expecting a Quiptic on 25th December, and on checking first thing, there wasn’t one. Later in the day, there was: the numbering was … Read more >>
Everyman 3714/17 December
Another sound Everyman puzzle for our Sunday morning education and entertainment. By the time you read this, no creature will be stirring, not even a murine one, so a chance for me to … Read more >>
Independent 9729/Peter
Apologies for the late blog this morning – blame staying up listening to England lose the Ashes and sleeping in. A fine start to the Indy week from Peter. All meticulously clued and … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 944/Matilda
There were those complaining that Matilda’s last puzzle was ‘too hard’ (whatever that is) for a Quiptic. I don’t think you could lay that criticism at the door of this morning’s puzzle. All … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 942/Moley
Moley pokes her head from her burrow to deliver us this Monday’s Quiptic, then disappears back underground. A few strange clues in this one. Abbreviations cd cryptic definitions dd double … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1449/Kairos
Kairos on duty this week. A sound and tractable puzzle, with a generous grid and clear cluing. One I’m not sure of the parsing for, so if some kind soul could confirm I … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 941/Hectence
One of the longest-standing Quiptic setters, Hectence, is on the oche this morning, with a puzzle I much enjoyed. Since it’s promoted as being for ‘beginners and those in a hurry’, for the … Read more >>
Independent 9711/Eccles
Eccles made his debut in the Indy just over a year ago, but it’s the first time I’ve had the chance to blog one of his puzzles. I enjoyed it very much, especially … Read more >>