Puzzles where you have to modify all answers before entering them into the grid are not my favourite. It normally means that you have to “cold solve” half the clues before you can make headway. Not my strong suit, but fortunately in Ho I have an ally who is very good at this, so, after some answer swapping, I was able to make some progress. The rubric read:
Inquisitor
Inquisitor 1761: Single Parent by Chalicea
Chalicea is a frequent setter of puzzles in the Inquisitor series. with two or three offerings each year. Her puzzles provide an excellent introduction to themed barred crosswords. Chalicea presents a wide … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1760: Shared Identity by Opsimath
Opsimath is making what seems like his annual summer appearance. Preamble: The wordplay in each across clue leads to the answer plus an extra letter, providing – in clue order – a … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1759: Murder Mystery by Jaques
Murder Mystery by Jaques
Inquisitor 1758: Comings and Goings II by Eclogue
This was the second in a potential series by Eclogue, but the connection with the previous puzzle was tenuous to say the least. The previous Comings and Goings puzzle was the relativistic one … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1757: What Does It Mean? by Hedge-sparrow
This week’s Inquisitor is set by Hedge-sparrow, a fairly prolific setter of barred crosswords in various publications. There was quite a detailed preamble. It told us that "Clockwise from the … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1756: Spreadsheet by Ifor
I am rather fond of puzzles by Ifor, and hope that this one won’t disappoint. Preamble: One across clue in each row contains an extra word that can suffix a thematic word. … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1755: End of Line by Dysart
End of Line by Dysart Two entries are encoded forms of their clued answers, using a separate one-to-one substitution cipher for each (in one a letter maps itself). The change from answer to … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1754: Motto by Phi
The regular blogger is still unavailable so I get to write this one up. Very enjoyable too.
Inquisitor 1753: Birdsong by eXtent
The setters this week are eXternal and Serpent in their dual manifestation as eXtent. The preamble told us that thirty consecutive clues contain an extra letter that must be removed … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1752: Mind That Spot! by The Ace of Hearts
The Ace of Hearts makes his (almost) annual appearance. Preamble: From the answer to each clue a letter must be deleted wherever it appears before entry into the grid; Definitions refer to … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1751: Picnic by Kruger
Picnic by Kruger Clues are given in alphabetical order of their answers which must be entered where they will fit. However, two entries are unclued; together they form a pictorial representation of … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1750: Game Changer by Pointer
My first IQ blog: and it’s a significant number!
Inquisitor 1749: N by Ifor
Ifor is a fairly prolific setter of Inquisitor with one of his puzzles appearing every two or three months. Ifor has served up a wide range of themes and cluing … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1748: Francophile by Skylark
Skylark completes the quartet in “Ladies’ Month” (though there is room for another one this April). Preamble: Every clue but one contains an extra letter which should be removed before solving. In order, … Read more >>