Independent

Solving time 22:05 I found this very tough, and was grateful for spotting the Nina – palindromes in the unchecked letters on each edge of the grid – DEIFIED, REPAPER, ROTATOR and REVIVER. … Read more >>

This one was unusually tough for me, though perhaps that’s to be expected on a Friday and from Nimrod. I felt a little short-changed at only having 22 clues, though at least that … Read more >>

Some seamless joins between definition and wordplay which misled at first. Solving time: 22 mins * = anagram ACROSS 6 PE DAN TIC 9 WI NONA West Indies and anon = soon reversed. … Read more >>

I have less time on a Thursday for crosswords and blogging than on other weekdays and I was mildly concerned to see Bannsider’s name at the top today as I’ve found him among … Read more >>

The usual top quality puzzle from this Indy setter with a weekly slot. Solving time: 15 mins ACROSS 1 DO YOU MIND Brilliant stuff 13 MA NANA Refers to 22 = Granada i.e. … Read more >>

I found this very easy – one of my rare sub-10 minute solves I think – but that’s not really the point as there’s a very clever piece of grid wizardry going on … Read more >>

Lots of references in this, but I found it fairly straightforward, with no major problems. Enjoyable puzzle.  (Thanks, Peter, for  pointing out below that some of the names are the real names of … Read more >>

Another corker from Nestor, with lots of clever and original stuff going on. Across 5 G,LIT,ZY 11 (st)AR,GUE(st) – very nice surface reading for this one. 12 (TO A DUNCE)* – the first … Read more >>

The usual flawless puzzle from Phi Solving time: 12 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 S TRIPPER Excellent use of 2 meanings of “peel” 6 FO UR of “backing” RU Rugby Union = … Read more >>

Solving time:  Most of the day! I was having to dip in and out of this between hospital appointments today and I found this experience very tough going.  Like my Co-blogger today, there … Read more >>

The usual satisfying fare. Solving time: 15 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 PLAYED OUT “Play” “doubt” “said” 9 R (E) ICH STAG e is the most common letter in English so abbreviations … Read more >>

Another excellent puzzle by Dac and they don’t have to be hard to be good. Solving time: 11 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 S TRUCK 4 BIG BUCKS 15 ARIA Alternate letters … Read more >>

I always enjoy Virgilius puzzles. This was no exception, lots to enjoy and very rarely anything dissatisfying in any way. No theme or nina as far as I can tell although 1A and … Read more >>

Across 1 MP in TRUED UP 9 ACK(nowledge) in BLOG – nice to see words like BLOG appearing in crosswords but, if you know the word, “online journal” is something of a giveaway. … Read more >>

Solving time: 15 mins? In a bit of blogging confusion I asked eimi for a copy of a puzzle I’d thrown away and thought I had to blog. He sent it with this … Read more >>