Independent

Very tough puzzle today from Radian, but I got there in the end, solving time 67 mins.       The lower half of the grid I found particularly difficult. Think I have seen Radian associated … Read more >>

Another new setter for me as far as blogging is concerned. Hypnos is generally sound and provided a wide array of cryptic devices for quite an entertaining puzzle. ACROSS 1 ROGUE Ins of … Read more >>

First session: 8 answers in 15 mins all below the half-way line. Then I slowed down a bit ( <- understatement alert) This was tough. Tough as any Bannsiders I’ve tackled. But enjoyable … Read more >>

I enjoyed solving and blogging this one, which used a grid that I hadn’t come across before. Furthermore, it was definitely the first time that I had come across the entry at 3 … Read more >>

Great stuff from the Tees-er. I found this easier than most Thursday Indy offerings, but there was plenty of elegant wordplay and a good selection of the tools of the trade on display. … Read more >>

On the radio this morning was the information that Mahler died 100 years ago today, so I expected to find some recognition of this in the Indy crossword, and one of the rare occasions … Read more >>

Help! Well Quixote did say yesterday to expect a harder thematic soon. As per usual there’s 1 I can’t really parse so help would be appreciated. So here we are with Scorpion and … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism According the online message, this was a puzzle from a UK v USA cryptic competition. There may have a nod to this in the … Read more >>

My first ever attempt at blogging a Crosophile, as far as I can see, though I’ve definitely tackled a few puzzles by this setter recently. This was fair and entertaining, without being too … Read more >>

Full marks to Monk this week – if you get my drift. Well 20 out of 20 anyway. Some highly original touches in the grid this week, which I’ve tried to summarise in … Read more >>

As soon as Phi appeared yesterday, I guessed that we’d be in for some sort of date-related puzzle today, and this certainly didn’t disappoint. I found this very tough from the start and … Read more >>

Phi seems to crop up all over the place at the moment. There was a time when you could be pretty sure that he would appear on a Friday, but no longer. This … Read more >>

Dac as we’ve come to know and love. Nothing controversial to my eye, we’d expect nothing less of course from the master of smooth stuff. Less full explanations today than I’ve tried to … Read more >>

Assuming that I have not got my days mixed up this week, and that I am meant to blog this one and not someone else, here we go! This puzzle was an absolute … Read more >>

I was pleased when I saw Nitsy’s name on today’s puzzle.  He’s a comparatively recent addition to the Indy stable, although I believe he also sets for the FT under the name of … Read more >>