The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26073.
Independent 8418/Quixote
Another fine Monday puzzle from Quixote in the usual style, although he does seem to have been rummaging about in his unusual words drawer this morning. There’s one I’m not entirely sure about. … Read more >>
Guardian 26,072 / Rufus
It’s Monday so Rufus is back with his customary plethora of double and cryptic definitions. Not my cup of tea but the person who was scheduled to provide holiday cover today ended up … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 725 / Nutmeg
This enjoyable crossword from Nutmeg provides a tour through most of the tricks a setter uses. I thought it on the tough side for a Quiptic, but fair, since it didn’t use obscure … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,232 – Kairos
Once again this was very enjoyable stuff from Kairos, who seems to be becoming a bit of a Sunday regular. Some very tight clueing here with one or two laughs along the way … Read more >>
Azed 2156
I found this somewhat harder than usual fare. Maybe I was distracted but it took more than a couple of hours to crack. Across 1 APPL(ERING)IE[d] – yes, a type of wormwood I … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 123 – Puck
This Genius puzzle by Puck had a fairly short preamble, as follows: Eight solutions, lacking further definition, are of a kind (one of them disputedly) Their type can be confirmed by finding the … Read more >>
Everyman 3495/29 September 2013
One or two little niggles when I was writing up the blog, but overall another sound as a pound Sunday puzzle from Everyman. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle 26,065 by Shed
A challenging puzzle from Shed that seemed at first to be on the easy side for a prize, but soon presented a real challenge. There were several anagrams or part anagrams in the … Read more >>
Independent Crossword 8411 by Bannsider (Saturday prize puzzle 28-09-2013)
Oh my – a duel with Bannsider – now there’s a challenge. And a high density grid too! And quite a battle it was. Over the years Bannsider generally gets the better of … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1088: Aarrgghh by Samuel
Well, belay there ye landlubbers – Cap’n Samuel has a piratical offering in celebration of ‘International Speak Like A Pirate Day‘ (an event which, I have to admit, had passed me by until I set … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,435 by Wanderer
Can anyone help explain 19 across? Across 1,4 BEHIND THE TIMES dd (square) (NI publish The Times) 9 YONKS long time YANKS (Americans) with A swapped for O (oxygen … Read more >>
Beelzebub No 1230
Cracking stuff Across 1 Italian author dull, penning one declaration appreciating the environment ECOLOGICALLY ECO (Umberto) I (one) CALL (declaration) in LOGY (dull) 10 Votes against introducing new day … Read more >>
Independent 8,416 / Phi
Phi is occupying this week’s Friday slot, as is to be expected. I found this one to be an easier-than-average Phi solve and made fairly swift progress through it. Bizarrely, 25 held me … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26,070 / Chifonie
A limpid and perfectly judged crossword from Chifonie. I found the clues kept me working very hard throughout without ever leaving me really stuck for long – just at the level where I … Read more >>