Independent

Solving time: 26 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 CU POL(e) A 4 S CRAM S The athlete Steve Cram 11 PA THAN(e) 12 ERLANGEN (Greenlan)* D = Germany German university city. 16 … Read more >>

Monk is among the toughest setters, with some very original treatments, and very rigorous logic in the clues. Usually his puzzles in the Indy are themed, but I cannot see one here. (Later … Read more >>

A fair and satisfying crossword but I’m still missing an explanation (25) which always niggles! No theme as far as I can see. Across 1 RANSOM – RANSOM(E) refers to Arthur Ransome, famous … Read more >>

An entertaining puzzle with a not-too-difficult-to-spot theme. Across the middle of the grid is the phrase POLES APART, which separates 6 across answers, all of which are poles of some description: NORTH/SOUTH, POSITIVE/NEGATIVE … Read more >>

Fairly easy start to the week although I’d never heard of 18A before. Across 9 (WE TRAIN)* 11 BOO,T(otall)Y – nice surface reading here. 12 SPEED<,PACE 13 (TESS IN PR)* – I’ve always … Read more >>

One of the last names you expect to see above a puzzle on a Saturday is Mr Tuesday himself, Virgilius. Not that I’m complaining. This was definitely easier than usual for a Saturday … Read more >>

Good fare from Phi with some excellent clues but with a couple of gaps in the word play and one clue not solved until I check in TEA just before submitting this! Across … Read more >>

I mentioned last week that, in the paper’s relaunch, they’d moved the puzzle away from the penultimate page. Well, there must have been a problem or two, because, this week, if you go … Read more >>

There are few perks associated with this role, but it’s a real pleasure to comment on a brilliant puzzle every now and then and today is one of those days. Nestor is one … Read more >>

The normal entertaining, accessible, fare from Dac. Solving time: 16 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 SU PER    rep us  all reversed    remember rep = traveller    less of them than … Read more >>

Always a pleasure to do a Virgilius. Not especially taxing on the obscurity of answers (although 19 was new to me) but inventive and amusing. As indicated in 16/17 there are plenty of … Read more >>

The last time I blogged a Mass puzzle I introduced it thus: “A compiler I usually struggle with but not on this occasion. There are some very nice clues in this but a … Read more >>

An appropriately timed and themed crossword as the date of publication (June 2nd) was the 150th anniversary of 28A’s birth. It’s also fitting that Nimrod (Enigmatist in the Guardian) should be the compiler … Read more >>

A pleasing puzzle from Phi, with a couple of good arts and literature references. Some very nice, very wry cryptic defs. Across 7 KEEP OFF THE GRASS Witty cryptic definition. 9 LEGIT Double … Read more >>

In a relaunch of the paper this has been moved from the inside back page – on P 75 of 96 this week. Solving time: 15 mins – held up by 18/7 Down … Read more >>