Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism I couldn’t get into this at all and gave up with about half the grid completed. The theme was evidently pi and I think … Read more >>

I found this very hard, as we come to expect from Scorpion. After I had about 10 answers I came to a complete halt, totally stuck. Restarting the next day I made a … Read more >>

As usual a pleasing efficient crossword from Phi. Not much to say really — it all fits together very well. Across 9 HER(M)ITAGE  — this museum 10 Y(E)ARN 11 ALGE(B)R{I}A 12 DATA SET … Read more >>

Took me a while to break the back of this one even though I got the long clue at 1/21/4 early doors. There are some good deceptive clues in here and I’ve learnt … Read more >>

Enjoyable puzzle as always, solving time, 25 mins * = anagram 6 BEDSORE    Said bore (Spoonerism) 7 OUT POST 10 ROLLNECK SWEATER   (Let cleaners work)* 11 S(second) ENTRY 12 RE BUFFS 14 SO … Read more >>

Solving time,  18 mins.     Excellent, as ever, from Dac. * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 HO SEA(of Galilee)    Prophet from the Bible 4 WADES INTO   ad = notice in (townies)* 9 … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. My patchy records suggest that I’ve never blogged a Tyrus before, so this was an interesting experience for me. The theme is clubs of one … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism This was quite tough but ultimately enjoyable.  Across 1 Intellectual: Tell in (clue at n I)*. 9 Gyp: Hidden in “dodgy patella”. 10 Crenellate: … Read more >>

Solving time: about 23 minutes I found this a challenging puzzle despite getting the long answer on first look. I hope most other solvers got it without too much trouble – if not, … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. The usual high-quality Friday puzzle, as we tend to expect these days. I got through this pretty quickly, though with a slight diversion in the … Read more >>

Extremely enjoyable puzzle from Nestor, not too difficult, with the 4 14-letter entries yielding reasonably quickly.   Solving time, 21 mins.      And as always I find with Nestor, fresh approaches to clueing. * … Read more >>

Solving time, 15 mins, so I found it fairly easy. * = anagram     <  = reversed ACROSS 1 CHAP(ters)      This was my last entry 3 A Fellow FAIR 7 GRAP(e) HIC 9 CHOW … Read more >>

Yet another fine offering from Dac, though he got the better of me with 4A and 6D! Across 1 DEPUTY – PUT in YE’D rev. 4 HESPERUS – PERU in [-c]HESS – I … Read more >>

U.K. Prime Ministers: I think there are ten of them (Major, Eden, Canning, Aberdeen, Wilson, Derby, Melbourne, Brown, Heath, Grey), which explains 17dn. We’ve become used to Virgilius cleverly fitting them in and … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A bit of mixed bag with some very nice clues but a couple of slightly weak CDs. It took me a while to understand … Read more >>