FT

Yet another beauty from Cincinnus. This one had several words/terms that I did not know but they all proved fairly easy to figure out. My favourite clues are 12A, 24A and 25A. Across … Read more >>

I quickly finished the left half of the grid. It then took me a couple of days before I got a good start on the right side. Once I did, I finished it … Read more >>

This was a tough nut to crack, at least by FT standards.  I don’t have regular access to other daily puzzles that are blogged on this site, but I suspect that the difficulty … Read more >>

A nice enough puzzle but a few too many cryptic definitions for my liking. Lots for new solvers to get their 5As stuck into though. Across 1 WIND-BAG – a cryptic definition with … Read more >>

Tougher than usual Cincinnus perhaps with some challenging clues (for me 1A, 1D, 17D and 25D) and a couple of beauties (28A, 15D). Across 1. LOBELIAS – ELIA (essayist) in LOBS (throws). It … Read more >>

I solved this one in fits and starts, although each quadrant of the grid fell into place pretty readily once I’d cracked the four “long” clues.  I use quote marks because no answer … Read more >>

Solving time: 26 minutes  Terrific fun today from Monk with some real laugh-aloud clues including 1 across and 13 down.  Nina hunters (those little hidden messages in puzzles) will be delighted to see … Read more >>

Actually for me the difficulty of this puzzle was fairly average, leavened a bit by a typical kind of Cinephile theme, fiends. I have enjoyed puzzles by John Graham (Cinephile/Araucaria) for many years … Read more >>

Just a short blog for this puzzle as many of the clues don’t really need much explaining. One thing you could never accuse Armonie of is unnecessary complexity in his clueing as the … Read more >>

My first Sleuth puzzle but I’ve solved a few by the same setter as Hypnos in the Independent. This was a reasonably gentle solve with some nice touches here and there. One query … Read more >>

One for the orologists today, as the eight clues that lack definition (denoted with an asterisk below) are all mountains. I had to take a guess at 24D to finish the grid – … Read more >>

SOLVING TIME: 24 MINUTES Apologies for the late posting.  A very clever puzzle from Gozo, reminiscent of Araucaria, with some good clueing, although a couple of queries.  There seems to be an ambiguity … Read more >>

Another beauty from Cincinnus. Across 1. ARTIST – anagram of TRAITS with slightly cryptic definition 4. SCOTTIES – SCOT + TIES 9. CIGAR – C.I. + GAR (fish) 10 BANKROLLS – BANK on … Read more >>

Mudd provided what proved to be the hardest, longest-time-to-solve puzzle I have done in a considerable time. There were several clues that I completed only thanks to my dictionary. I like a good … Read more >>

One of the toughest of setters (be it in his Satori guise or Taupi in the Guardian) and a personal favourite. A battle with Mr Mole is one which always gives a great … Read more >>