Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def This was a brilliant piece of work by Morph. I don’t know if the idea has been used before or not – it’s such a … Read more >>

A nice end to the week from Phi. Started this as I got on the bus to work, and finished just before I needed to get off. Perfect. Across 1 SUPERCHARGED – PERCH … Read more >>

I struggled with this puzzle having to return to it a number of times.  With hindsight I think that the wordplay was clever but very fair.  The definitions were well disguised which made … Read more >>

An enjoyable crossword from Scorpion. As you might expect there was some tricky wordplay — in many of these its explanation needs to be separate from the answer. Across 1 SILICON VALLEY — 2 defs, … Read more >>

Solving time, 19 mins, so not too difficult. * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 NAT HAN(d)   tan< 4 S (PORT) ING 9 B (EAR) OUT 11 UP P (SAL)A 12 SONS … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def This was an enjoyable puzzle that was mostly straightfoward but I had some trouble with the SW corner. For some reason, that often seems to … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. For once I’ve actually picked up on a theme and spotted a Nina, although the penny dropped much later in the game than I should … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def This was themed around Philip Marlowe and the actors who have played him in films. Marlowe himself appears as a homophone in 10 and 11. … Read more >>

Excellent puzzle, solving time 27 mins.   A mini-theme perhaps with symmetrically placed 4 down and 13 down similar. * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 COWL  (th)ICK      thick hiding half of that … Read more >>

Trees. That’s a new compiler I thought. Then forgot that as I stared at the clues for an immensely long time looking for inspiration. I wasn’t sure of any answers on the first … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. It must be Thursday, then! I found this very tough going indeed, and had to cheat relentlessly. Getting 15ac was something of a help though. … Read more >>

Solving time, 23 mins * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 6 PEP TIC 8 PINNA (leaflet) C LE 9 BOS (PO RU)S 10 P ASS I’M 11 QU A N GO 12 … Read more >>

Apparently Dac’s recent Saturday crossword was quite tricky. He seems to have continued in the same vein here — this took me far longer than a normal Dac. The usual crop of very … Read more >>

Lovely stuff once again from Mr. Halpern. I would imagine that anyone not familiar with Indie music may have struggled with some of the band-related clues, but this one fortunately played right into … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def A challenging puzzle with some good clues and surface readings. I was mainly held up by the unusual spelling of 5 down and being convinced … Read more >>