Not an easy end to the week……
Independent on Sunday 1429/Raich
Raich can do hard, but his IoS puzzles are generally accessible, and I at least found this one so. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram … Read more >>
Independent
Independent 9595 / Phi
It’s Phi-day again! We have to say that, as a solve, we found this rather ‘vanilla’ – not unenjoyable, but not really very challenging. Phi’s choice of entries for the four-letter words … Read more >>
Independent 9,594 / Dutch
This is my first outing as a blogger with Dutch, and a most enjoyable experience it was too! I found this to be a medium-difficulty puzzle, with a good few write-ins (mainly anagrams) … Read more >>
Independent 9593 / Tees
Tees fills the Wednesday slot this week. Tees has forsaken his usual classical and mythological path today and homed in on a more modern theme that fits with my childhood. The … Read more >>
Independent 9,592 by Vigo
Vigo has always been marginally difficult: not horribly so, but significantly. This crossword I found almost as easy as anything the Independent ever produces, and amazingly so for a Tuesday, which is usually one of the harder days. Not that that is a bad thing: it’s a positive on blogging day, and in any case the crossword itself was a good one: simple clues, but all sound and enjoyable. My only carp is with the use (twice, I think) of ‘with’ as a link-word, something that I find almost impossible to justify on logical grounds, although I have seen people who know rather more about these things than I do making a case for it.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Independent 9,591 by Serpent
A good puzzle with some ingenious clues.
Independent on Sunday 1428 Gila
A bit more difficult than the usual IoS, I thought. Thanks to Gila. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Leather overalls for men (5) CHAPS : Double defn. 4 Cops in … Read more >>
Independent 9,590 by Morph
Maybe I haven’t been paying attention, but it was a bit of a surprise to see Morph appear on a Saturday. In fact, solving seemed to go smoothly enough that I started to … Read more >>
Independent 9,589 / Phi
Phi has provided the last of this week’s mid-week puzzles. I found this to be at the easier end of the Phi/Indy spectrum, a light solve to ease me gently into the weekend. … Read more >>
Independent 9588 / Punk
I don’t think I’m giving away anything that the clues don’t spell out when I say that Punk celebrates a sport today. Today is the opening day of the cricket … Read more >>
Independent 9,587 by Silvanus
A pleasant gentle crossword from Silvanus today. I thought one or two of the surfaces (10ac, 15ac, …) were perhaps a little underwhelming, but on the other hand some (11ac, 1dn, …) were very good.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Independent 9586 / Knut
As usual, we enjoyed today’s puzzle from Knut. The theme became apparent very early on with the very straightforward gateway clue at 15ac. Several of 15ac’s film titles appear in the entries … Read more >>
Independent 9585/Hoskins
Ever had the feeling that you’ve been set up? A very pleasing puzzle from Hoskins, typically straightforward in the traditional Indy Monday style. As well as the usual sex, … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,427 by Phi
A middling sort of puzzle, not a pushover but not going to upset your Sunday lunch plans either. Thank you Phi.