Independent

Solving time:  15 mins A nice enjoyable puzzle from one of the Indy’s stable of fine setters.  Several really excellent clues including 14 across, 17 down (hope he doesn’t sue!) and 23 across. … Read more >>

This was the first time I’ve encountered Merlin, and I found it a stiff (but satisfying) challenge. There were some easy ones which got me started, but I then needed to make a … Read more >>

I found this a very unusual crossword, much tougher than usual (perhaps scheduled because of the Bank Holiday).    I spent 47 mins at it, but did not solve it, not getting 23 ac … Read more >>

One of the things that struck me when I was solving this entertaining puzzle is how heavily my solving “technique” (if that’s not too poncey) involves working off of definitions and checking letters, … Read more >>

A fairly gentle end to the week I thought. The grid seemed quite heavy on the black squares, and there are a number of long answers (most notably 7/3/16/11) which fill a fair … Read more >>

I found this reasonably easy (for a Nimrod) although I couldn’t get 26 and didn’t fancy guessing it either. I spotted the Nina with the grid half full though so filling in the … Read more >>

I found this very easy, solving time 12 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 POLISH Double definition 4 ACC R EDIT 9 ERR AND S 11 (C) UMBRIAN 12 GO … Read more >>

Although there are one or two I’m not sure about, this was not one of Dac’s most difficult. Which doesn’t prevent it from being well up to his usual standard. Is there some … Read more >>

Another excellent themed puzzle from Virgilius, the theme becoming apparent to me only quite late on. The middle row is PARTS OF SPEECH and every row, sometimes in one word, sometimes reading across … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=rev. Very tough puzzle by Scorpion, I thought.   There were three I didn’t fully understand. Across 7  Mincer:  cryptic definition. 8  Heighten:  he + (the gin)* 9  Leo Minor:  Odd letters … Read more >>

As usual, an excellent puzzle from the ever-reliable Phi. Solving time, 21 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 (PIPPED) (AT THE POST) Tempted at first by the 15 letters after … Read more >>

Great pangrammatic puzzle from the Bulletprooof one. Not sure about 2 and 3 though. I think they’re both right but I can’t say why. Across 1 H in WORKSOP – I think the … Read more >>

I found this exceptionally easy – Solving time, 10 mins * = anagram ACROSS 7 CHARGE Double definition 8 G U I DANCE 9 HOUSEMAID’S KNEE Good cryptic definition 10 M1 D O … Read more >>

– Blog Number 1 from me, so first things first, hello! A puzzle of two halves for me. The bottom half went in fairly easily, but I came a bit unstuck on the … Read more >>

Across 1 PET,RA – an archeological site in Jordan and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Would “old city” been a fairer definition? 4 (GERMAN IS T)* – great clue, … Read more >>