Inquisitor

My first puzzle by Ifor to blog since April Fool’s Day, though there were three others later in 2017.   Preamble: Eight across clues include an extra word containing only one letter not … Read more >>

Silvester by Eclogue Twenty three clues contain an extra word. In clue order, initial letters of these words provide four courses; final letters provide their accompanying drinks. Reflecting the thematic sketch cryptically indicated … Read more >>

This may sound sad, but I’m starting to write this on Christmas morning. My daughter is asleep in the next room, having been woken in Richmond by planes coming in to Heathrow at … Read more >>

Linking Themes I’m reliably informed that, due to popular demand, Base is planning a second Inquisitor contribution themed around the TV quiz show Only Connect (see IQ1460: PW RBS). That will be wonderful … Read more >>

I’m used to blogging Phi puzzles in the Independent, but I think it’s a while since I last blogged an Inquisitor by Phi       The preamble told us that “Four across … Read more >>

I initially thought that this was Encota‘s debut in this series, but I checked and saw that his/her first Inquisitor puzzle was published early last September.   Preamble: In 32 clues the wordplay … Read more >>

Space Invaders by Shark The unclued 1ac hints at why only one of the barred-off corners should be filled in. Clashes in the grid must be resolved to form a relevant three-word phrase; … Read more >>

Succinct rubric: When the clue answers have been entered there will be some vacant cells. Solvers must complete the grid to show five thematic names. Numbers in brackets give the lengths of final grid … Read more >>

Ifor is an innovative and challenging setter, so it was good to see his name attached to this puzzle       The preamble told us that "Across clues and entries are normal … Read more >>

eXtent makes a welcome return.   Preamble: Each grid contains two unclued entries identifying a theme (6,8); the fifth unclued entry indicates a thematic relationship. Eight clues lack definitions; their answers are thematic … Read more >>

A Major Restraint by Kruger Preamble: Answers to ten clues must have one checked letter changed to reveal ten elements of a set. Ten other clues have a single letter misprint in their … Read more >>

After a day with very little in the grid but the bottom right hand corner, I was beginning to fear that this was the one I couldn’t finish (blogger’s nightmare!). I had a … Read more >>

Seeing that it’s a Nimrod puzzle often strikes fear into the heart of a blogger       We had a fairly short preamble this time.  It stated: Clued by their initial letters, … Read more >>

Ploy is an infrequent setter in the Inquisitor series although he has been in the setting stable since 2007 when he set Puzzle no 2.  This is the eighth Inquisitor set by Ploy..  The … Read more >>

I recall that Radler‘s previous puzzle about collective nouns involved a lot of cold-solving, and to cap it all I highlighted the wrong cells in the grid to form SKEIN. Let’s see what … Read more >>