Financial Times 13,772 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword/Aug 15 Two Dante puzzles in a row, but I am not one who is going to complain about that . Just like last week, please keep in mind that I cannot respond to … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,771 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 13 Well, here is a confounding puzzle from Cincinnus. It includes a good dose of his typically brilliant clues, notably 14A (PAINTERS) and 10D (BARNACLE … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,780 by Aardvark
A good plain crossword from Aardvark. No themes, ninas or other funny business, just straightforward crossword fun. My favourite clue was 14 down, least favourite was 17 down. Hold mouse over clue number to see clue. … Read more >>
Guardian 25,409 / Enigmatist
Well, this was a surprise for a Wednesday – especially as I was convinced we were due for a Gordius – but I’m certainly not complaining! It was quite a tough work-out but … Read more >>
Independent 7,755 / Dac
With Dac as the mastermind behind today’s puzzle, highly sound clues with smooth-as-silk surface readings were bound to be the order of the day, and Dac did not disappoint. Overall, I very much … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1190 – Part-time by Charybdis
Has Charybdis been on holiday to Cornwall recently? If so he set a corking crossword while there! The rubric was pretty complex and, having read through it and not understood much, I cracked … Read more >>
Independent 7,754/Punk
Another great puzzle from one half of the Indy’s ‘John H’ setting team (I’m assuming there are no others!) I figured out the novel at 11A from the letters, but having never read … Read more >>
Financial Times 13779 Gurney
Can’t say I’ve done many Gurneys (though I’ve, enjoyably, completed quite some Raich’s), but this was quite enjoyable. Last one in was 9A, with the parsing coming to me only after I had started … Read more >>
Guardian 25,408 – Paul
What a pleasure to wake up to a Paul puzzle with all its multi-various devices of all hues, shapes and sizes; and none boring. If you were to see me solving and working … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 614 / Hectence
In previous reviews of Quiptics by Hectence I have commented on the high number of anagrams. This count is considerably reduced today. I still think that many of the constructs and indicators were … Read more >>
Independent 7753/Quixote
I found this a pretty straightforward and enjoyable puzzle from The Don in his fortnightly Indy slot. A good one for less experienced solvers, I think; for this reason I’ve tried to give … Read more >>
Guardian 25,407 – Rufus
Standard Rufus fare, rather heavy on the cryptic definitions for my taste (six of them). I don’t think I was quite on the right wavelength for this one today, as it took me … Read more >>
In memory of Mike Laws
Yesterday (20 August 2011) a group of crossword addicts went to the ‘office’ used by the late Mike Laws — The Springfield Park Tavern, in Bounds Green, north London — to present two … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,121
A solve of two halves for me this week, comprised of a first session where I made very slow progress and solved only a handful, followed a few days later by a second … Read more >>
AZED No. 2,046 Plain
Nick: Typical AZED this week, which I rate 6/10 on the ‘Azedian’ hardness scale. Luckily no PD clues for me to fail on 😉 I have two queries; Why the MCG in 1dn, and … Read more >>