Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed A Zimbabwe themed puzzle from Eimi, with the definition for Robert Mugabe (“one destroying his country”) only controversial if you’re one of Mugabe’s ruling circle. There was a fair amount … Read more >>

This was the best prize puzzle I’ve done in some time. That’s not to say the others weren’t any good, just that this one was really good. Lots of great clues and invention, … Read more >>

I had a feeling this might turn out to be pangrammatic when answers like 14,17a and 4 went in. I found this a bit tougher than usual for Phi and had to “reveal” … Read more >>

Usual excellent puzzle from Monk with inventive treatments – solving time 27 mins. * = anagram < = reversal ACROSS 1 UNNATURAL (U-turn Alan)* This was clever because you were not sure which … Read more >>

Some less familiar words this week, solving time, 25 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 TA R (AD) IDDLE 9 S (L) INGER This was my last – I thought … Read more >>

Fairly easy today, I thought. No major stumbling blocks, but some very nice clues as always from Dac. Across 1 SOAP DISH – ‘One with role of bar keeper’ is a nice definition … Read more >>

The usual tough but excellent puzzle from Punk. At one stage I thought I would never get going and would have to admit defeat, but eventually all was well. Across 1 COSTIVE – … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed Very tough puzzle today from Hypnos. Across 5 Leaflet: I think it’s a soundalike of Leif + Lett. 7 Stir Fry: Stir + fry. 9 Leonardo da Vinci: (on DVD … Read more >>

An unusually easy Phi today, it seemed, apart from one or two that I can’t explain properly. Rather more full anagrams than one might expect. Across 7 FORE N SIC – ‘for courts’ … Read more >>

I found this very easy but very enjoyable, as always from Nestor. Across 1 (BANAL MINUTIAE N)* – UNMAINTAINABLE. Had to UNsomethingABLE really. 11 RE,CU in SQUAT 12 A RANT in TELL,A 17 … Read more >>

A bit of a mixed bag this: very tough in places, very easy elsewhere. Still don’t understand 10, 11 and 19 though. Across 1 ERA,SPOT< in TRICES – TRICERATOPSES. I found this very … Read more >>

I found this quite easy, solving time 14 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 8 AT HEIST 9 EP I ZO (Oz<) A Oz = country down under (Australia) 10 OILC … Read more >>

The usual, excellent, well-crafted, puzzle from Dac with good variety of treatments. Solving time, fast for me, 17 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 SLIGHT Double definition 5 S (EAR) … Read more >>

A nice games-themed puzzle today. A number of references in clues and I spotted at least ten in answers scattered throughout the grid. Across 1 BOWLS – B,OWLS 4 TIC TAC TOE – … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed Eimi crosswords tend to send me scurrying for the reference books and there were quite a few words in this that were new to me (13 across being particularly obscure, … Read more >>