Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A début? Certainly not a setter I’ve come across before. I didn’t find this unduly taxing, but everything was very well put together. There’s a … Read more >>

The standard excellent Quixote puzzle as it heads into the second thousand.   Solving time, 25 mins.     SW corner by far the hardest for me. * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 MI  … Read more >>

A not-too-tricky-but-not-in-any-way-less-enjoyable-than-usual offering today. Nice stuff. And apologies for the brief blog, I’ve been busy out enjoying the sun! Across 1 FAIR – F,AIR 4 ULTIMATELY – TIM in U,LATELY 9 MASTODON – … Read more >>

Another themed classic from Virgilius.    Every across answer is thematic. So are almost all the clues, which as usual are superb.   Some unusual words were forced in by the thematic requirements and Virgilius … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def I found this very hard-going. Spotting the symmetric anagrams around the perimeter of the gird earlier would have helped a lot. Across 1 Secret Agent: anag of … Read more >>

Pleasant fare from Phi, with one clue that defeats me but which will I’m sure be quickly explained. I wonder if the clueing style used in 10ac and 13ac is consciously Azedian. Across 1 … Read more >>

A chess inspired puzzle from Mass, where every clue makes reference to the game and/or some its famous players. Like all puzzles from this setter I found this pretty tough but got there … Read more >>

A puzzle in the quirky and individual Merlin style.   Some gems.   I found it ranged from very easy indeed to extremely difficult, with the SW corner taking me much longer than the rest … Read more >>

Solving time, 19 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 DA (GO) B A (a bad)< A type of Buddhist shrine found in Sri Lanka 4 OBJECT ED 9 RE MARKS … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Wednesdays have become distinctly tougher this year. Several unfamiliar terms and some challenging clueing meant that this one really put up a fight. I’m not … Read more >>

Slightly unexpected to see Nimrod on a Tuesday – I was hoping for something a little easier on the first day back after a long weekend! I struggled with the corners on this … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def Some nice clues with one or two I didn’t entirely follow. Across 1 Hazard: Hard around AZ. 5 Banknote: >: Bank + note. Not sure that in … Read more >>

A bit tougher than usual from Phi, maybe because of some words that were unfamiliar to me.   But all excellently put together.    Solving time, 31 mins * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS … Read more >>

We get a puzzle from Bannsider around once a month, and every month that puzzle is never less than bloody marvellous. I’m pleased to say that this month is no exception. Across 1 … Read more >>

Like most other people no doubt, I seem to have a full week’s worth of stuff to fit into 4 days this week, so not much time to stop and admire this puzzle … Read more >>