Independent 7828 by Klingsor
I’ve got a few problems with the blog today, not entirely due to Klingsor’s clues – I’ve misplaced my glasses so reading clues, solving and typing up are all likely to be error … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,844 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword/Nov 7 Pleasant starter of the week, this Dante. What struck me was that the clues were shorter than usual. Surfaces were great as ever ….. ….. while my Top 3 … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,843 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 5 Here’s another fine although uncharacteristic puzzle from Cincinnus. I especially like 1A (DICTION), 19A (MOPED), 5D (BATES), 7D (VAGUE) and 17D (APPLIANCE). And I … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,852 by IO
Good stuff from IO, with some clever and amusing clues. 18,19 was my clear favourite, one of the easier ones but it made me laugh, I thought 15dn was clever too. I can’t get to … Read more >>
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 >>