Independent 8651/Kairos
I usually recommend the Monday Indy to anyone who’s getting into the Dark Arts, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this one. If I hadn’t been blogging this, I might have given up and … Read more >>
Pierre
Independent on Sunday 1270/Hypnos
Hypnos must be getting fed up with me blogging his IoS puzzles, since this is the third in a row that has come up on my shift. Generally I enjoyed it, and this … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 762/Nutmeg
Nutmeg continues to set the Quiptic, although she is now a regular compiler of the Guardian cryptic as well. It took me as long to do the NE corner of this puzzle as … Read more >>
Independent 8633/Punk
Always a pleasure to come across a Punk puzzle when I’m on duty. Some straightforward stuff to get you going, but I really struggled to get over the line. Only one bum and … Read more >>
Everyman 3531/8 June
A pleasing puzzle from Everyman, but one I struggled with a bit, especially in the SE corner, where there was a word I had never heard of. Abbreviations cd cryptic … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 760/Hectence
I liked this Quiptic from Hectence. It wasn’t all completely straightforward to solve or parse, but once you had a foothold I think an improving solver could be expected to work through the … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1266/Hypnos
I think I have pinned this all down, but there are a couple where I’d be happy to be corrected. Every setter has his or her particular style, and I don’t think … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 758/Pan
A Quiptic that hits the spot from Pan this morning. Some clever cluing and nothing too controversial. I’m on a bit of a mission today, so just a brief blog (what do you … Read more >>
Independent 8615/Raich
I was pleased when I saw Raich’s name at the top of the grid this morning, because I enjoy having a go at his puzzles. I liked this one, except for two intersecting … Read more >>
Everyman 3527/11 May
Another entertaining and cleverly clued puzzle from Everyman, although there were – unusually – a couple that didn’t really hit the spot for me this morning. You’ll no doubt tell me if I … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 756/Nutmeg
Nutmeg started setting for the Guardian Cryptic a while ago and her puzzles there have been well-received. But I’m glad she’s still doing the Quiptic, because she generally manages to set an accessible … Read more >>
Independent 8597/Quixote
Perhaps it’s because it’s a bank holiday puzzle, perhaps I’m just being a bit lethargic, but I found this tricky. A couple of less common words (which is normal for Quixote); a good … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1262/Hypnos (27 April)
I thought this was a fine Hypnos puzzle in the expected IoS style – in other words, reasonably tractable. That said, I struggled in the SW corner for a good while, before 12dn … Read more >>
Everyman 3523/13 April
Another lovely Everyman, with plenty of anagrams to get us going, and some delightful but accessible clues all over the grid. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 752/Provis
A quick look at the archive suggests that this is only Provis’s second appearance, and my first chance to blog him or her. I thought this was a fine Quiptic. Nothing to frighten … Read more >>