Guardian 25,481 / Paul
There’s much to admire, enjoy and laugh [or groan] at in this typically Paul puzzle. Not much more to be said – I hope you enjoyed it. Many thanks, Paul. Across 9 PEPPERONI: … Read more >>
Independent 7,827 / Dac
An enjoyable, to me easier-than-average puzzle from Dac today, with its characteristic array of beautifully crafted clues. There were more propernouns – cultural/historical figures and the like – than average in today’s puzzle, … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1202 – Old Mates (Plus One) by Lato
Another corker to go with the last six inquisitors. All really challenging and extremely enjoyable (always helped by the occasional win – 1199 in my case!) A long and complex preamble told us … Read more >>
Independent 7,826/Eimi
Well, there was a lot going on here. Some nice topical references to protestors and world events, a nod to the setter’s football team of choice, a pangram, and lots of very nice … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,851 / Neo
As scchua hinted in his blog last week, he is off on a break, so I am blogging in his place during his holiday. Next week, though, the blogger will be a stand-in … Read more >>
Guardian 25,480 – Pasquale
Cannot say this is an easy one as I found myself stumbling all over the place, trying to understand the crafty word-play of many a clue. As usual with the Don, this is … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 626 / Nutmeg
I found this to be a considerable improvement on the last puzzle that I reviewed from this setter, although some of the constructs appeared to be a tad difficult for the newer solver. … Read more >>
Independent 7825/Quixote
A WYSIWYG Monday puzzle from Quixote. And if that sounds like damning with faint praise, it’s absolutely not intended that way. This was a crossword with accurate cluing, clear definitions, a good range … Read more >>
Guardian 25,479 – Rufus
In contrast to the tricky Enigmatist puzzle I blogged last week, this was all plain sailing. The usual straightforward clueing (with 22ac being perhaps a slightly more involved construction than usual) and smooth … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,133
An over-long pause between solving and blogging means that little of the solving experience remains in my memory. However, everything seems very clear and explicable. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1134: Glowworm
A very rapid solve this week. Not much else to say, really. Across 1 DISASTERS Cop’s plants are flops DI’S = Detective Inspector’s; ASTERS = plants 6 DEBUG Pick off insects from budgie … Read more >>
AZED No. 2,058 Plain ‘Competition Puzzle’
Nick: Typical Azed competition crossword this week, being a tad more difficult than normal plain puzzles; 7½/10 on the Azedian hardness scale for me. I am not impressed (my own personal view, being a … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3397 (6th November)
Lorraine: Good morning to you all, I had real trouble starting this week. I got 26ac immediately but then that was it. I put the puzzle down for a while then asked Nick to … Read more >>
Independent 7818 Anarche (Sat 5-Nov)
A Bonfire night themed crossword with enough horrible death by burning to satisfy the most extreme of sado-pyro-necro-philiacs. Indeed for people with a fear of fire or otherwise of a nervous disposition, like … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 991 To Horse by MynoT
So some clues with extra letters this week, these will reveal a quotation and an anagram of the author. Then the other clues must be modified before entry. What can be so difficult … Read more >>