Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism I swapped this blogging spot with NMSIndy, which in retrospect is rather fortunate, as it would otherwise have left him with a rather too … Read more >>

Don Quixote de la Mancha deftly subdued another giant aka windmill with last week’s offering of a variety of cryptic devices, each crafted immaculately and with very few wasted words. ACROSS 9 LASSITUDE … Read more >>

An enjoyable solve from Eimi to bring this year’s batch of Indy crosswords to an end. An unannounced seasonal theme added an extra layer of entertainment to the puzzle, with the panto season … Read more >>

As in former years, I noted down my solving times for Indy puzzles in 2010.     I do not approach puzzles in ‘race the clock’ mode, but always found it interesting to note the … Read more >>

This was something of a tour de force from Anax. It was also incredibly difficult! On an initial read-through of all the clues – which was something of a necessity as I wasn’t … Read more >>

Dac goes on and on, week after week producing crosswords full of clues with smooth surfaces and apart from one or two very small niggles below, a high standard throughout. I found this … Read more >>

Math today, don’t often see but pleasantly solvable. Eric and Ernie theme today Across 1             PREVIEW             (VIP WE’RE)* 5             PORTICO             OR in PT + 1 + CO 9             ERNIE    N in ERIE 10           … Read more >>

This was hard as Scorpion often is, so well-chosen by the Indy for a Holiday Monday, got there in the end, solving time, 62 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 6 SN (bridge partners) … Read more >>

An enjoyable, festive-themed Quixote today. All scrupulously fairly clued as always, though the NE and SW corners put up a bit of a fight for me. Still, it all came together in the … Read more >>

Some inventive wordplay in several of the clues within this grid. So much so I have difficulty describing constructions such as 25A JEST (super-definition?) and 19D OBERON (un-hidden? regularly-hidden?). As usual with Nestor … Read more >>

This was something a little different, with no setter’s name given and 3 clues having one letter omitted from wordplay that we were told would help with a hidden message. Regular solvers of … Read more >>

My easy time had to come to an end sooner or later. I find Nimrod about as difficult as any of the Indy setters. There are some good clues here and it seems … Read more >>

The days are getting longer hurrah, soon be summer, Here’s a DAC to warm us up. As usual with DAC there doesn’t appear to be a theme or Nina. I’ve got a stinking … Read more >>

A taxing puzzle by Morph which teased and entertained in equal measure. It is rare for a daily cryptic to put me through my paces quite as much as this one did, and … Read more >>

A themed puzzle from Radian as was clear from a first look at the clues with a lot of them referring to the answer at 13. Will leave a gap so as readers … Read more >>