Independent

Fairly straightforward, with the SW corner the slowest. As always with Quixote, everything stacks up unambiguously. Solving time: 21 mins * = anagram ACROSS 8 TI PP ER Slightly unusual construction in which … Read more >>

Solving time 11:07 (if correct) A theme that kept me guessing for a while, as the crucial no. 5 didn’t fall until I’d got one of the theme answers, most of which are … Read more >>

Solving time: 24 minutes (one dubious answer) Another sound puzzle from Dac which held my enjoyment right the way through. Not terribly sure about 13 across, I wondered if the countries had been … Read more >>

Ah what’s the theme, I thought as I opened the back pages of the Independent. Momentarily distracted by the pictures of weekend’s big fight between Arsenal and Chelsea, I returned to wondering if … Read more >>

Another fine puzzle from Tees and, in keeping with the last few Monday puzzles, quite difficult in places. Across 1 (MARK)* in WON – “Newmark” (helped out by “Maybe”) to indicate an anagram … Read more >>

I found this really difficult but never frustratingly so. There seemed to be just right mix of easy clues to get you started and tough ones to stop you getting too cocky. I … Read more >>

I found this puzzle incredibly easy, for me, for a Friday, and for Phi. I usually start my crossword on the train from Newcastle to Durham and then pick the paper up later … Read more >>

This was my slowest Quixote solve of 2007 – contains some good stuff as set out below. Solving time: 34 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 B(AIL)IFF Jointly with 5 down, my favourite … Read more >>

Solving time: 55 minutes (including 35 minutes of staring at a blank grid) I nearly had a relapse with today’s puzzle.  It felt odd because usually with Virgilius, I can wade  in, savour the … Read more >>

My first blog and I’m relieved to get off the mark with no problems! Particularly as I found Monday’s Mass unnervingly hard going! Today’s crossword a good mix of anagrams, homophones and double … Read more >>

A new name for the Independent but one our regular readers will certainly recognise! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crossword attributed to more than one setter before, although the Guardian does … Read more >>

Mass is the only one of the setters, there when I first tackled the Indy, who still sets in the daily paper, though he appears less often.     His puzzles were among the hardest with great skill … Read more >>

Solving time: about 38 minutes. Timing is a bit rough – I was traversing London by train and tube, and there were various interruptions for changes. There is some kind of theme here, … Read more >>

Solving time: 22 minutes After a short stay as a guest of the NHS, I came out with the prospect of a long rest and recuperation period with the anticipation of being able … Read more >>

Not quite as easy as some recent puzzles in this series, but all clear in the end. Solving time: 21 mins ACROSS 1 GE(R)T RUDE R = King Queen Gertrude of Denmark, mother … Read more >>