Independent 8041/Quixote
The Don was saying in Another Place last week that if you wanted his most accessible puzzles, then the Monday Indy with his Quixote hat on was the place to come. And so … Read more >>
Pierre
Everyman 3431/8 July
Another fine puzzle in the Everyman style, with plenty of good surfaces and elegant cluing. But I found this trickier than normal, with one phrase I had never come across before. … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 660/Arachne
A fine Quiptic from Arachne – everything clearly clued, a good range of devices, no obscurities, and some wit thrown in for good measure. I’m sure others will have enjoyed this as much … Read more >>
Independent 8023/Punk
Bonjour! Punk and I cross swords again on a Monday – in a friendly sort of way, of course. I loved this one, but I’m not sure everyone will be quite so keen … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1166/Tyrus
You know that stuff about buses? You wait ages for one to come along, and then two come one after another? I blogged my first Tyrus when he had the Monday slot a … Read more >>
Everyman 3427/10 June 2012
Late on parade, for which apologies. I did forget, since you ask, so the blog is a bit rushed. Another fine puzzle from Everyman, with one or two old chestnuts – but as … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 656/Hectence
It’s a Quiptic, Jim, but not as we know it … It might have just been a bad day at the office for me, but this was harder than many a Guardian cryptic … Read more >>
Independent 8005/Quixote
It’s Monday, it’s Quixote, and it’s the usual mix of fine surfaces, clear definitions, and polished wordplay. Quixote was mentioned in nms’s recent survey as being one of the ‘easier’ Indy setters, and … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1162/Glow-worm
I’ve blogged two or three Sunday Glow-worms before, and I’ve thought they were pleasing puzzles. But I’ve been a bit critical this morning: I think there are some clunky surfaces, remote synonyms and … Read more >>
Independent 7987/i 399 Tyrus
Quixote is twelfth man today, so Tyrus is running up to the crease this morning to bowl us some googlies and doosras. I was slightly concerned when I saw his name on the … Read more >>
Everyman 3423/13 May 2012
I always look forward to blogging the Everyman puzzle, because there’ll be plenty of inventive but gettable clues and a wide range of references that often have me going off on a tangent … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 652/Nutmeg
A pleasing Quiptic from Nutmeg, but she has included a number of cryptic definitions, which I found slightly tricky. Overall though, a well-constructed puzzle, with just one clue that I can’t quite get … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1158/Poins
My sense is that the Independent on Sunday puzzle is one that’s pitched at a reasonably accessible level so that ‘lesser mortals’ (and I have deliberately used the inverted commas) can have a … Read more >>
Independent 7969/i 381 Quixote
Another sound and enjoyable Monday morning puzzle from Quixote, but one which I found more difficult than some in the past. However, once I got my way into it, it fell out nicely. … Read more >>
Everyman 3419/ 15 April 2012
Another pleasing Sunday morning solve from Everyman, with a wide range of references. Fewer anagrams than usual from this setter, but still an accessible puzzle with a nice range of cluing devices. And … Read more >>