Independent

Quite simply as oustanding an example of a themed daily cryptic as you could hope to see, made all the more special for me because 9D was the penultimate clue I solved and, … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone It was good value today, with a lot of clues. Most were fairly straightforward, with many easy-to-spot anagrams, but there were a few harder clues sprinkled in. It took … Read more >>

Everything I associate with a Phi puzzle, bullet-proof clues with excellent surface readings , references to classical music and matters astronomical.   As there were 4 15-letter entries around the perimeter, I said I’d … Read more >>

It’s been a while since we last saw Monk in the Indy so this was, for this solver at least, a welcome return. Just one query at 3. Across 1 POST,P ONE – … Read more >>

Pretty much everything you could want from Nimrod here – his unique style, pretty tough overall, some lovely clues and some which I’ll need fellow solvers to explain. I do admire the way … Read more >>

Solving time, 21 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 CUPIDS DARTS Got this when I’d some crossing letters – thanks, Wikipedia for telling me where it comes from – a … Read more >>

Excellent as ever from Dac but I’m not sure about 1d and 21. Across 1 (TEACHER TRACKS)*,CH – CHARACTER SKETCH. 9 MOO’S,E 10 M,OMEN,TO,US 11 (TIES USA)* – AT ISSUE. 12 DR,OP’S,IN 13 … Read more >>

The wordplay is always fine, but forgive me if I’m lukewarm about some of the surfaces, which seem to me to be a bit thin. ‘Publication with no trouble elevated colour’; ‘A liberal honour … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A Christmas list themed puzzle that had some well-constructed clues, but a little too much obscure stuff (e.g. abolla, ibo) for my liking. There were a couple I didn’t … Read more >>

A nice 4-based crossword from Phi today. Across 1 THE MOONSTONE — them (not so)* one — OK once one has 4 8 FLORIDA — (fair old)* — excellent &lit. 9 V AUNTED … Read more >>

It’s not often we see a preamble in an Indy puzzle, and I’m not really sure we needed one here. If the X in the thematic clues was replaced by 7 then surely … Read more >>

A very good puzzle from Mordred – tricky, but not impenetrably so, and good fun to solve. There’s a Nina too, in the 8th row of the grid, although I’m not sure what … Read more >>

Only 20 puzzleS to go now till Quixote’s 1000th. Always a very accessible puzzle, solving time, 15 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 CEREAL “Serial” 4 A B ERRANT (ranter)* … Read more >>

Harder than usual for Dac, I thought – two brilliant &lit clues involving anagrams and a great puzzle overall – solving time, 36 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 COLOURLESS   … Read more >>

Great stuff as ever from the V-man. There’s a theme running through this one, with 9/25A kicking things off and then numerous references to the letter “U” in both clues and answers. I … Read more >>