A fun challenge from Nutmeg today, with some lovely surfaces and a nice mini-theme. Favourites 19ac and 17dn.
Financial Times 14,838 – Falcon
Monday Prize Crossword/Jan 26 Lots of charades and anagrams, yet far from a walkover. Falcon used some really original definitions and indicators, which had me thinking and ultimately added considerably to the fun. … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,837 by Goliath
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 24, 2015 I found this to be another challenging puzzle although not as difficult as that recent Redshank. Notably hard clues are 4a, 24a, 2d … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,846 by ALBERICH
A very good and interesting puzzle. Some puzzles contain a string of traditional cryptic constructions and feel a bit workmanlike. Alberich puts together a set of traditional cryptic constructions and the result is fresh and entertaining. I can’t put my finger on what makes the difference. No doubt that that explains why I just blog the these puzzles not set them.
I’m stuck on 6 across, any help appreciated. Thanks Alberich.
Guardian 26,486 – Shed
A good week for Guardian puzzles continues with a welcome return of Shed after a bit of a gap (his last weekday puzzle was last September). My first one in was 1a, and … Read more >>
Independent 8,832 / Dac
I was looking forward to my monthly encounter with Dac today, and the puzzle certainly lived up to my expectations. Overall, I found this towards the easier end of the Dac spectrum. I … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1370: Side by Shark
Quite a short preamble this week: “Six features in the final grid are thematically positioned in straight lines and must be highlighted. The six unclued entries already highlighted give hints at the theme: … Read more >>
Independent 8831 / Radian
Radian has provided a good crossword for the commuter today. There is nothing particularly obscure in either the clues or the entries. There was a mini theme based on … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 794/Moley
Moley has given us a fine puzzle in the Quiptic style this morning. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions … Read more >>
Independent 8830/Bucko
Welcome to Bucko, a new setter for the Indy, whose first puzzle it’s my pleasure to blog. I liked this one. The Monday Indy is typically the ‘easy’ one (although the editor has … Read more >>
Guardian 26,484 by Orlando
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26484.
Private Eye/Cyclops 539 Stopcock dictatorship
This was a solid Eye crossword which had me getting many answers quite quickly but having to stretch to get those last few, particularly in the top right corner. Across 1 ABSCESS Miley’s arse … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1299
This one seemed to be over rather quickly, with many entries going in during my first pass through the clues (there would have been more but some clues seemed to be too easy … Read more >>