Independent

Dac seems to be a fixture in the Independent on a Wednesday, like Phi on a Friday, with only a few days off for each setter every year. Once more Dac produces an … Read more >>

As I’ve come to expect from Nimrod, some very clever clues, but several whose explanation defeats me, something that I trust will be remedied. He has done very well to get in so … Read more >>

It looks like the blogger for Sunday’s Indy puzzle hasn’t been able to post, so here’s a no bells and whistles blog of a pleasing puzzle from Raich.       Abbreviations cd  … Read more >>

We’ve had a wide variety of ‘guest’ setters in the Monday slot, and today it’s Morph, whose puzzles always seem to have a contemporary feel.  A fine crossword, which it took me a … Read more >>

Looks like a themed crossword this week – always a good sign.   So what of the theme   The key to it lies with 1 and 4 across.   The answers yielding … Read more >>

It is Friday today, so it is a pretty safe bet that a puzzle by Phi will await solvers. I found this one quite a challenge to solve, and the elaborate wordplay required … Read more >>

This is the first daily Anax puzzle that I have blogged.  I have blogged a couple of his Saturday prize puzzles in the past.       It seemed a slightly odd puzzle, … Read more >>

As usual … Does Dac ever depart from his high standards? Across 1 W AVER 4 MISS (JUL 1) E{uropean} — the play by Strindberg 9 ARNOLD BAX — {p}a{t}r{o}n old “backs” 10 … Read more >>

Surprisingly, this is our first blog of a Punk puzzle. We’ve always enjoyed his quirky and sometimes slightly risqué cluing, and this was a good example, if perhaps not the best we’ve come … Read more >>

I found this quite a bit tougher than Quixote usually is, solving time 38 mins.     Very enjoyable puzzle – esp liked 27A, 8D and 20D. * = anagram ACROSS 1 BEARINGS     a  R … Read more >>

A little while since I’ve blogged a Sunday Glow-worm, I think, so a nice change for me. I left this one a bit late in the week, so it was convenient that it … Read more >>

Layers within layers – what seemed at first to be a nice fluffy topical thematic puzzle (I know, we aren’t supposed to give away too much in these first sentences, but there can’t … Read more >>

Today’s offering from Phi was good solid national daily crossword fare.         I cannot see any theme nor can I see any hidden message in the grid. There were a couple … Read more >>

A good crossword from Monk today. I don’t know if I’m getting better at his crosswords (doubtful really) or if he’s becoming a bit kinder. Certainly there used to be a time when … Read more >>

Our turn for another Dac to blog so no complaints about the surface reading of the clues! A good solid enjoyable puzzle as far as we were concerned with a touch of nostalgia … Read more >>