FT

Gozo is in fine form today, well worth having a go at this one if you have not already done so. Gozo is something of a specialist in filling the grid, and this … Read more >>

There was a problem with the link to the online version, which meant that I started late.  (Thanks to those who responded to my call for help in trying to get the crossword.)   … Read more >>

The usual excellent puzzle from Bradman with eloquent clue surfaces and some deceptive use of punctuation (25a, 14d). I started from the right of the grid and worked my way to the bottom-left. … Read more >>

Mostly a doddle, this one, in spite of a couple of sly misdirections and too many financial allusions for this solver’s comfort (although I suppose there may be solvers who buy the FT … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 2 I enjoyed this relatively easy Mudd. Easy except that 24A (EVERTON) stumped me for a good while. My favourite clue is 11A (DISAPPOINT) while … Read more >>

Cinephile gets everything right in this crossword: inventive, varied, no sloppy clues and exactly the right level of difficulty.  Altogether a pleasure to solve and a pleasure to blog.  Thanks Cinephile. Hold mouse over … Read more >>

This was no pushover.  Enjoyable mental workout with quite a few of the clues.  Some nice surfaces.  There’s a minor reference to an annual event, but can’t find anything else significant.  Small quibble … Read more >>

Very much enjoyed this puzzle. Nice smooth surfaces, sleek wordplay throughout. I had a little trouble parsing a couple of clues. I entered 25a without fully understanding it and it is only while … Read more >>

One of those mornings when I stared for five minutes at the empty grid with a deepening conviction that every single clue was nothing but incomprehensible gibberish… but the mental logjam broke, eventually, … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 25 Cincinnus is in good form here with four clues that I especially applaud: 16A (HARANGUE), 21A (HOUSEBOUND), 26 (AGHAST) and 3D (STRIPLING). And maybe … Read more >>

Monk is one of my favourite setters so I was very pleased to see him return to the FT and Indy after an eighteen month sabbatical. However, I don’t remember ever taking as … Read more >>

This was a pleasant solve, quite straightforward with some nice surfaces.  Thanks Jason.  (Definitions are underlined in the clues.) Across 1 One in west coast city selling aromatic shrub (8) LAVENDER :  An … Read more >>

Generally easy though the definition in 18ac might have confused some solvers, as might the wordplay in 20dn for those who haven’t met this usage before. I rather liked the two long anagrams … Read more >>

Rattled through this without too much difficulty. Was brought up short once or twice by some pretty baroque clueing, but, on the whole, nothing too 29ac. ACROSS 1. COWPAT Cryptic definition of the … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 18 I found this puzzle to be tough. In particular, 4A, 14D and 18D all stumped me for a while. I still do not completely … Read more >>