Independent

Some very clever misdirection and puns in this puzzle.    Solving time, 23 mins * = anagram ACROSS 10 C(h)OPPER    Busy  = slang for policeman 12 f(ACTOR)y    Workplace “not taking sides” 14  PHILATELISTS    late … Read more >>

Solving time: 34 minutes  Life is full of worries and paradoxes.  Mrs Dale (for those of us of an age) always worried about Jim.  Me?  I worry about Simon McStraphanger.  Who he, I … Read more >>

Solving time : 20 minutes A good quality puzzle, as usual, from Dac. The puzzle had what felt like a preponderance of proper names in the answers, the wordplay and a few clues: … Read more >>

I pencilled BURDEN in over-confidently for 8 Across.  This delayed me.  Solved in just under 20 mins, a bit slower than usual for Virgilius, where a theme usually becomes clear to help the … Read more >>

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a compiler appear so soon after their previous appearance (we saw Phi just last Friday). Not that I’m complaining. I’ll add my name to list of Phi’s … Read more >>

This puzzle was deliberately scheduled to appear on the 25th and it became apparent why as the grid was filled in. Unchecked letters at the top and bottom and left and right read … Read more >>

All but two solved in 11 mins, 14 mins for those two making 25 mins in all.   7 across and 2 down which intersected – covered in notes below.   As always with Quixote, all … Read more >>

This has all I’ve learnt to expect from a Phi puzzle.    Perfectly worded clues, credible surface readings, variety, and a satisfied solver at the end.   I solved it in 15 mins. * = … Read more >>

This was hard by Indy daily standards – and there’s one I don’t understand and fear I missed – any guidance welcomed! Solving time (if I’ve got it!) 60 mins (way longer than … Read more >>

Apologies for the delay – a review of today’s debut by Nestor will appear shortly.

Some of you may have seen this post appear, disappear and reappear. That’s because I posted on the wrong day after looking at last week’s schedule and then removed it while I found … Read more >>

Solving time: 13:16 (one mistake) Another excellent puzzle from Virgilius with a theme (7, arguably 10 answers) based on a work by one of my favourite authors. Anyone unfamiliar with the excerpt in … Read more >>

Solvers of advanced cryptics will recognise the name Obtrox as he/she has compiled a number of crosswords for the Listener, Enigmatic Variations and the Independent’s own Weekend Magazine over the past few years. … Read more >>

This was really tough.  Merlin has a monthly slot in  the Indy. As a solver who tackles the Times Listener Crossword every week, Merlin is familiar to me in that context also as … Read more >>

Solving time : 30 minutes. In many ways a typical Phi puzzle, very fair. The clues that marred this puzzle for me were a couple of cryptic definitions that I didn’t feel worked … Read more >>