Happy New Year to all at fifteensquared!
It’s been almost 6 months since we last blogged a Monk puzzle, so we were delighted to find one of his puzzles as our first blog of the new decade.
Independent
Independent 10,364 / Eccles
Eccles has provided our first cryptic challenge of 2020, an occasion which is suitably marked at 18. I found this to be a standard, medium-difficulty puzzle, as one might expect to appear in … Read more >>
Independent 10363 / Skinny
Skinny debuts in the daily Independent today. There have been Skinny puzzles in the Independent on Sunday before now but not in the daily version. There’s a definite theme to … Read more >>
Independent 10,362 by Gila
A solid if unspectacular puzzle with just one Brexit reference to see us into the New Year.
Independent on Sunday 1,557/Kairos
The last IoS offering of 2019 brings us a themed crossword – unusual for this slot, but an entertaining puzzle from Kairos, which required a bit of headscratching in a couple of places. … Read more >>
Independent 10361 by Tyrus (Sat 28-Dec 2019)
Very tricky stuff from Tyrus today. It is no secret that it has a theme – the answer to 23D/8 is referenced in many clues and forms the definition for several. I could … Read more >>
Independent 10,360 by Phi
The festivities are over and we have a Phi to amuse us at the end of this week. When 12ac went in we did wonder about a cricket theme but cannot find any … Read more >>
Independent 10,359 / Serpent
Serpent has provided the first post-Christmas cruciverbal teaser for anyone sufficiently recovered from yesterday’s excesses to want to give the old grey matter a workout. I think that this was too intensive a … Read more >>
Independent 10,358 by Radian
My apologies for slight lateness today: computer problems and I’ve had to use an old version of the software I normally use for my blogs. Let’s hope it’s working all right (at this stage, before I click the ‘Publish’ button, everything looks fine) and the various things I’ve tried to do (like underlining the definition, which should be in maroon) appear as they should. Anagram indicators in italics.
An excellent crossword from Radian. All the clues run smoothly, with nice surfaces, and there are no wasted words so far as I can see.
Independent 10,357/Poins
Indy aficionados will be more used to seeing Poins producing the Independent on Sunday puzzle, but he’s brought us the Monday one this week. It took a bit of teasing out, I can … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1556 Wire
Thanks to Wire for an enjoyable crossword. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 9 One who reprimands Mark goes very pale (9) ALABASTER : A(article for one in number) + “lambaster”(a reprimander/a … Read more >>
Independent 10,356 by Hob
Three blogs in a row for me with Hob as the setter. Takes my mind off the fallout from the election. A very pleasant (reasonably gentle I would say) pre-Christmas puzzle. Elegant surfaces, … Read more >>
Independent 10,355 / Phi
Phi is occupying his customary Friday slot on what is doubtless his last appearance before Christmas (hint, hint). I found this to be an easier-than-usual Phi puzzle, and I think that I have … Read more >>
Independent 10354 / Punk
Punk gives us plenty to think about today. I found this one of the tougher examples of an Independent crossword, but I got there in the end. There were some … Read more >>
Independent 10,353 by Alchemi
A good medium-difficulty crossword from Alchemi today. There was a bit too much cross-referencing for my tastes (it always irritates me because one is slow to get started, several clues being effectively closed … Read more >>