Independent

A typically satisfactory puzzle from Phi, with so far as I can see no controversial clues. Everything is of a high standard.   There is a gentle Nina — hardly a Nina, more … Read more >>

A good Thursday work-out from Morph with some topical references, excellent surface readings and great attention to detail (see 5d). 23a and 25a are new to us but they were readily solvable from … Read more >>

It’s Wednesday today, and not the last Wednesday in the month, so it ought to be a Dac puzzle today, and indeed it is! I struggled more with this one than I normally … Read more >>

Raich is a regular contributor to puzzles in the Independent, Inquisitor and Listener series.  I think also that I have seen him once in the Guardian.  His clues are generally clear and not too … Read more >>

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 >>

This is my debut Indy blog, and an enjoyable and not too difficult puzzle to start off with.  Thanks Hypnos.  Definitions are underlined in the clues.  The pictures at the bottom each has … Read more >>

Another Saturday blog day for me and another Tyrus puzzle. But am I bovvered? Of course I am, even if the theme of this week’s offering is a series of scornful responses. There’s … Read more >>

We were pleased to see that it was Phi again in his regular Friday slot. As usual, smooth surface readings and some tricky misdirections, especially in 8a and 25a. A really enjoyable puzzle … Read more >>

My Thursday slot often presents me with a puzzle by Nestor and today was one such day. For me at least, this puzzle fell into place more easily than some earlier Nestor puzzles … Read more >>

This looks like a fairly standard crossword from Crosophile.  The clues are not too difficult, the wordplay is not too complex and the vocabulary of the entries comprises words I would expect to … Read more >>

A quite excellent crossword from Anax. He seems to be a frequent contributor to the Independent (or perhaps it’s just that he always seems to get me) and although his crosswords are on the … Read more >>

A puzzle which I enjoyed, solving time 32 mins.   I found the top half very easy but the bottom half far more difficult.   Mordred often has themes/Ninas, sometimes quite subtle ones.  … Read more >>

This was a tour de force from Radian, with about as much thematic material as you could hope for. Having solved the puzzle mid-week, the significance of the date of publication was lost … Read more >>

A nice ‘straightforward’ puzzle here from Monk, with no obvious thematic links or complications, but some lovely surface readings, especially the two long across clues. I originally found myself wondering if this was ‘difficult’ enough … Read more >>

It’s Friday, so it’s a puzzle by Phi, as you might expect. I found this one tougher than the average Phi crossword overall, despite filling in 1A and 1D instantly and thinking it … Read more >>