I’m always excited to see Arachne’s name at the top of the puzzle, and as usual she provides an entertaining challenge full of misdirection. Many lovely clues, but favourites were 10ac, 21ac, 27ac and 28ac.
Guardian
Guardian 26,719 – Picaroon
An entertaining and not-too-difficult puzzle from Picaroon. I spotted the theme almost immediately from 9a and 10a, but it didn’t help greatly, as all of the 13 fish (shown in blue below) have … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26718 by Orlando
Wot no Rufus? A relatively gentle Orlando is always a welcome change.
Quiptic 833 by Provis
An enjoyable dip into the week’s cryptic waters from Quiptic regular Provis.
Guardian Genius 148 by Crucible
A ‘centripetal’ jigsaw, with 20 clues in a mystery sequence, two unclued ‘kitchen items’, and a solitary square in the middle to be deduced as an ‘appropriate’ Roman numeral. Help! Stop the world, … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 26711 by Shed
A very straightforward puzzle with no theme this week.
Guardian Cryptic 26716 Nutmeg
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) A warm-up to tomorrow’s prize challenge. … Read more >>
Guardian 26,714 / Screw
After Crucible’s toughie yesterday, today it’s the Turn of the Screw – another tough challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, which is full of inventive cluing and really innovative definitions, with lots of … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26713 by Crucible
Found this very tough all the way through, but with plenty to enjoy – my favourite was 9dn. Thanks, Crucible.
Guardian Quiptic 832/Pan
Pan always gives us a sound Quiptic, and that was the case this morning. One or two trickier ones, and a not entirely helpful grid for an entry-level puzzle, but it was all … Read more >>
Guardian 26,712 – Rufus
A very quick solve for me today, with the exception of 4d, which held me up at the end. Fewer cryptic definitions than usual, I think, which helps; the ones we do have … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 26705 by Paul
This is the second tricky prize puzzle from Paul I have blogged recently. I think his weekend puzzles are getting harder. Not so many laughs as some of his puzzles but lots to enjoy regardless. Thanks Paul.
Guardian 26,710 – Qaos
Qaos rounds off an excellent week of Guardian puzzles. I always look for a ghost theme with Qaos: I thought it was going to be food, with POULTRY, BREAD, PUDDING and GARLIC, but … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26709 Paul
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) Encountered a few speed bumps along the … Read more >>