Inquisitor 1296: Twelve by Raich
After 3 or 4 puzzles towards the easy end of the spectrum, I was expecting something fierce, to spill over into Monday’s public holiday (‘UK – not Scotland’). The rubric was brief & … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,408 by Armonie
An enjoyable challenge Across 1 STEADIED made stable (I SEDATED)* 6 SCREAM funny man S (old shilling) CREAM (very best) 9 DIRECT order (CREDIT)* 10 FANCY MAN lover FANCY … Read more >>
Independent 8369/ Raich
We hadn’t realised until we checked that it is over a year since we blogged a Raich puzzle. This was good fun and when we started finding double and then treble instances of … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic N° 26,043 by Picaroon
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26043. If there is anything going on under the surface, I cannot spot it, nor is it required to add further sparkle to a fine set of … Read more >>
Guardian 26.042 / Rufus
I think Rufus provides his own description of this Monday puzzle in the clue for 27ac, so no more comment here! Across 1 Perhaps he’s right to gamble and drink (7) SHERBET Anagram … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 720/ Nutmeg
It’s a Quiptic, Jim, but not as we know it … At least that’s what I thought, but you will no doubt put me right. It’s a generally sound puzzle throughout from Nutmeg, … Read more >>
Independent 8388 by Punk
Lots of the usual inventive and frequently suggestive cluing from Punk. Some of the surfaces were a bit jerky but there were a lot of clever devices. I particularly liked 1 and 18. … Read more >>
Cyclops 502: Stating the bleedin’ obvious
After the last one I blogged, a straightforward Cyclops puzzle. Some clever clues, with special mention going to 2d and 9/7d. Across 1 TAHITI Country hat off before sex with one *(hat), with … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,225
Initially a fairly mid-paced week for me, but with a real struggle at the end, leaving a few clues unexplained. I’ve reproduced the relevant clues. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,227 by Hypnos
Another fine puzzle from Hypnos, which seemed neither too hard or too easy. I briefly wondered if a theme was in the offing, centred around the actor at 20ac, who has recently passed … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3490 (25th August)
Lorraine: Good morning to you all. Well what can I say. I could not write them in quick enough, one look and the answers just kept coming! I love it when that happens, crossword … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 122 – Tramp
As is often the case in Genius puzzles, the special instructions were a little mysterious at first: “Seven solutions are of a kind and lack further definition. They must be suitably transformed before … Read more >>
Azed 2151 Printer’s Pie
This is the first non-standard Azed puzzle that I have blogged for some time. I found it a pleasant change from the normal fare. There was a preamble to this … Read more >>
Independent Crossword 8381 by Klingsor (Saturday prize puzzle 24-08-2013)
5 weeks on and another duel with Klingsor. And what a pleasure it was. Well this was full of quirky clues, the type I’ve come to expect from Klingsor and so, so enjoyable. It wasn’t … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle 26,035 by Maskarade – Late Summer Prize Cryptic Crossword
Maskarade is a new setter whose puzzle is published this weekend as sadly Araucaria has been too ill to set the holiday special. Also, given the choice of an alphabetical jigsaw which was … Read more >>