Independent

Tackling a puzzle by a compiler/pseudonym that is new to one is always an exciting and somewhat daunting prospect, and especially daunting on a day when one has been scheduled to produce a … Read more >>

It’s been quite a while since I blogged an Eimi puzzle, so this was a welcome appearance from the Ed. The grid suggested that there was a theme (as did the setter!), but … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism I found this a bit more difficult than the usual Quixote and there were one or two clues I had to work quite hard … Read more >>

I am blogging this in The Old Joint Stock in Birmingham, where we are anticipating tomorrow’s Sloggers & Betters meet (which will have happened by the time you read this). Fortunately, it doesn’t … Read more >>

I heard a short while ago that flashling has unexpected work commitments today and will be unable to blog so here is an analysis of the clues. Sorry for the brevity and lack … Read more >>

A challenging, entertaining and eminently satisfying puzzle to solve – one would expect nothing else of an Anax! Yet again, he has served up a multitude of meticulously constructed clues, which I hope … Read more >>

I thought this was definitely a bit tougher than an average Dac. I struggled with a few of the lower answers here and I’d say 6D is not far from impossible without a … Read more >>

A very good crossword from Radian today, with 5dn as its theme, which appears in some form in many of the answers and clues. I find these crosswords where there is a large … Read more >>

Bonjour!  And there’s a bit of that going on today, as you’ll discover if you read on … My first Klingsor blog, of a puzzle I found difficult, but satisfying.  One that was … Read more >>

A month ago, I blogged Hypnos and found the setter quite entertaining. June’s offering is just as varied with a couple of hard-boiled eggs as befits a prized puzzle. ACROSS 1 COMPACT dd … Read more >>

What’s so special about the eleventh of June? Well it’s another Monk puzzle to blog. Some lovely clues again from Monk – 11ac, 28ac, 15ac, 7dn and 23dn are probably my top five, … Read more >>

I wasn’t on Phi’s wavelength as much today as I normally am, but I think that I got there in the end! There were more new words to me here (1A, 3, 13, … Read more >>

This was a nice challenge from Mordred. Plenty of well-hidden definitions and neat wordplay , and a number of what seem to be trademark &lits. A few less-common words here and there – … Read more >>

As always a lovely crossword from Dac. I solved it online and didn’t time myself, but there seemed to be nothing of any great difficulty here: it all went in very smoothly, something … Read more >>