Independent 8322 by Quixote
I was slightly surprised to see Quixote when I got the paper this morning, I thought he did alternate weeks and he did last Monday, something special planned for next week perhaps? Back to … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic N° 709, by Pan
The puzzle may be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords/quiptic/709. I found this plain sailing, as befits a Quiptic. Across 1. Peer said to be infertile (6) BARREN A homophone of BARON (‘peer’). As often, the … Read more >>
Guardian 25,976 – Rufus
Got through most of this quickly, but came unstuck for a long while on the last two – 21ac then 7dn. Favourite clues were 2dn and 8ac. Across 1 PAPER CLIP cryptic def … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday, 1,216/Raich
I haven’t blogged a Raich puzzle for a while, but always good to see him popping up on a Sunday. I liked this one a lot. Some tougher words took a while to … Read more >>
Azed No 2140
A reasonably straightforward Azed this week, if perhaps a little harder than average. I have a couple of queries which will no doubt be resolved swiftly by the usual suspects. Across 1 FIG … Read more >>
Everyman 3479/9 June
A delightful, well-constructed entry-level puzzle from Everyman, with a variety of devices and everything clearly clued. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] … Read more >>
Guardian Prize No 25,969 by Araucaria
I found this to be a distinctly challenging puzzle, although I didn’t help myself by a stupid error which delayed my solving of 26 across, the key to the theme. There seemed to … Read more >>
Independent 8315 by Monk (Saturday Prize Puzzle 8 June 2013)
An enjoyable prize puzzle from Monk – with an interesting twist, or two… Apologies but a manic week and two blogs to complete tonight mean this will have to be quick. I started … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1072: Companions by Wiglaf
I found this puzzle quite challenging, partly due to a gap in my cultural references, which will be revealed – although I suspect many people who don’t have this gap may have got … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,339 by Alberich
Pretty tricky today Across 1 INFRINGE break IN RING (item of jewellery) in F[armhous]E 5 HARLOT tramp R (right) in (A HOT [mea]L)* 9 CLERICAL white-collar C[rime] L[inked] ERICA … Read more >>
Guardian 25,974 / Araucaria
What a treat to end the week! – Araucaria in great form, in a puzzle with one of his own favourite themes. It was something of a puzzle of two halves for me. … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1214
Excellent as usual Across 1”You’re another,” said Aberdonian in old cap TU QUOQUE (Latin) QUO (said Scots) in TUQUE (Canadian cap) 7 American money keeping American in step PEAG … Read more >>
Independent 8,320 / Phi
It’s Friday today, so one would expect to be doing battle with Phi. A medium-difficulty puzzle today, in my view, with no apparent theme, although it could well have gone straight over my … Read more >>
Financial Times no.14,338 by Jason
Cryptic crosswords don’t come much more straightforward than this morning’s offering from Jason (a hiccup at 27ac. excepted). Smart, tidy, by-the-book and breezily enjoyable – thank-you, Jason. ACROSS 1. PULL THE PLUG Double definition … Read more >>
Independent 8319 / eXternal
I don’t think I have blogged an eXternal puzzle before although I know he/she has produced puzzles for Independent on Sunday and the Inquisitor series in the Saturday Independent. This … Read more >>