Financial Times 13,240 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 21 Another splendid puzzle from Cincinnus this time. I especially like 16A, 20A and, most of all, 21A. Across 1, 4. WILLOW GROUSE – WILL … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,249 / Satori
Not the friendliest of grids with the NW and SE corners only connected to the rest of the puzzle by one clue each. Add to this some misleading (not in a bad way) … Read more >>
Guardian 24,872 (Araucaria)
I enjoyed this but then I always enjoy Araucaria. Across 1 DROPLET: DR (debtor, one obligated) + OP (work) + LET (for hire) 9 ATHENAEUM: A + THE (articles) + anagram of A … Read more >>
Independent 7217/Dac
Dac just goes on producing crosswords with clues that run so smoothly you think he must have been lucky. Well the only way he may have been lucky is in having the ability … Read more >>
Independent/7,216 – Virgilius
Yet another example of why Virgilius really is the undisputed master of the themed daily. In puzzles such as this, you’ll often find that there are one or two obscure words in the … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,248 / Armonie
A typical collection of lapidary clues from Armonie. I am always impressed by his concision and the natural surface readings. Across 1 EVENING OUT EVEN (all the more) IN (concerned with) GOUT (foot … Read more >>
Guardian 24871 – Rover
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram A very ordinary puzzle, easier than a … Read more >>
Guardian 24,870 / Auster
We seem to have another case of AWOL so here is a quick analysis of the clues. I will leave it up to others to provide a commentary. Across 1 PET AVERSIONS A … Read more >>
Independent 7215 by Radian
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism I couldn’t get into this at all and gave up with about half the grid completed. The theme was evidently pi and I think … Read more >>
Everyman 3295 (November 22nd)
Lorraine: This week it took me a while to get started!. Having 9 anagrams certainly helped me though, I love anagrams because you know without doubt that you have got the correct solution. … Read more >>
Azed 1956
Solving time: 35 minutes without Chambers, but with one mistake A fairly straightforward Azed this one – I managed to invent all the right words without help except for 30A. Across 1 ARCHIBALD … Read more >>
Guardian 24,863 (Sat 21 Nov)/Araucaria – Gray area
Solving time: About 20-25 mins, one mistake (24ac). The theme of this puzzle was Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, lines 51-52 and 57-60. Not knowing any of these lines made … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 889: Indistinguishable by Hugo
As far as I can see, Hugo is a new setter, so good luck to him with this puzzle. As far as I’m concerned, he’s off to a good start with lots of … Read more >>
Guardian 24,868 / Quantum
Yet another posthumous Quantum puzzle. Unfortunately I have to say I wasn’t very impressed with it: there are a couple of rather weak cryptic definitions, and other niggles noted below. Apart from that … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,245 / Viking
A very good puzzle, a shade easier than Viking’s usual. I would’ve preferred fewer word truncations in the wordplay, but that’s a minor nitpick in an otherwise solid effort. Across 1 SHEEPISH SHE … Read more >>