Independent 8382/Quixote
Another sound as a pound Quixote Monday offering. When I’m trying to persuade friends to get beyond the ‘Oh, I can’t do cryptics’ stage and have a go, I always recommend Quixote on … Read more >>
Pierre
Independent on Sunday 1226/Commoner
It’s the first time I’ve blogged a Commoner puzzle, although I think he has had a few published in the IoS before. I really enjoyed this one: there was some quite complicated wordplay, … Read more >>
Everyman 3487/4 August
Another fine puzzle from Everyman to accompany the Sunday morning coffee. Not so many anagrams as normal, and no old films today; but a nod to the cinema nonetheless. Abbreviations … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 716/Hectence
I enjoyed solving and blogging Hectence’s puzzle this morning, but I fancy the target audience might have found it a bit of a struggle. There were some excellent surfaces, but often, in my … Read more >>
Independent 8364/Raich
One of the little pleasures in life is being a Monday Indy blogger and seeing who you’ll be up against when Quixote is enjoying a long weekend. Today it’s Raich, who has given … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1222/Poins
Poins has become a bit of a regular in the IoS slot over the last couple of years, and I always look forward to solving and blogging his/her puzzles. This was a value … Read more >>
Independent 8346/Quixote
Those that followed a thread elsewhere in cruciverbal cyberspace a few weeks ago will have seen an opinion expressed about bloggers being sycophantic, and blogs here and elsewhere being unhealthy blogger and setter … Read more >>
Everyman 3483/7 July
Another thoughtfully-constructed cryptic from Everyman. We only as a rule get a few comments on this site. But I’m certain his Sunday puzzles bring pleasure to many solvers, both in the UK and … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 712/Orlando
People have said previously that Orlando has mastered the art of the Quiptic, and I think this was another example of that. Plenty of anagrams to get you going, plenty of wit, and … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1218/Kairos
Well, I don’t know about you, but I found this hard. Some very good cluing by Kairos, and you have to say that this setter takes care with his surfaces; there were some … Read more >>
Independent 8328/Alchemi
I’m not sure what to make of this one. It’s not a bad puzzle by any means, but it didn’t really hit the spot for me. Some of the cluing is pretty complicated … Read more >>
Everyman 3479/9 June
A delightful, well-constructed entry-level puzzle from Everyman, with a variety of devices and everything clearly clued. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 708/Moley
A Quiptic from Moley that is clearly aimed at the target audience, but which I found a bit clunky in places, with some unconvincing cluing at times. Perhaps I’m being a bit unfair. … Read more >>
Independent 8310/Morph
I really enjoyed this Morph puzzle. We keep bumping into one another on a Monday, but when a crossword is this good, I don’t mind in the least. Plenty of excellent surfaces, some … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1214/Crosophile
Crosophile has been a regular monthly contributor to the Wednesday slot in the Independent, but is this his first IoS puzzle? It’s certainly the first time I’ve blogged him. It was a good … Read more >>