Falcon always a pleasure, and this morning’s no exception. A couple of new words and some ‘No, really?’ head-scratchery in the bottom left
Financial Times 16,130 by CRUX
CRUX kicks off April…
Independent 10129 by Knut
A date appropriate puzzle from Knut with lots of lively and occasionally off-the-wall clueing devices.
Guardian Cryptic 27,783 by Vulcan
Quick and enjoyable solve – with smiles at 1ac, 10ac, 20ac, 2dn, 19dn, and 22dn/23dn. Thanks to Vulcan.
Guardian Quiptic 1011 Orlando
Thanks Orlando, for a neatly-clued, enjoyable puzzle that fits the Quiptic description. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 7 Everlasting cross goes inside and outside (8) EXTERNAL : ETERNAL(everlasting/never-ending) containing(… goes inside) … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops/ 647) Executive Time
One of those where the last one in was the first one read and failed to solve, several times: 1A where I got totally fixated that the definition was some kind of egg … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,518 by Hypnos
The puzzle can be found here. Hello! There’s no rest for the wicked, and so I’m back again with this puzzle by Hypnos, to whom thanks. I was in need of something … Read more >>
Azed 2441
I’m afraid left too long between solving the puzzle and writing the blog to remember how I found it at the time (and didn’t make any notes). I think it probably counts as … Read more >>
Everyman 3,780
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3780.
Genius 189 /Soup
March’s Genius challenge is provided by Soup. I note that Soup has been the December Genius compiler in 2016, 2017 and 2018 but I’ve never solved any of his puzzles myself, so I … Read more >>
Independent 10,128 by Filbert
The puzzle can be found here. Hi all. After a long week, I took a longish time unwinding with this puzzle by Filbert, a setter whose crosswords I find to be a … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 27,776 / Crucible
It’s a while since I blogged a Crucible puzzle and so I was pleased to see his name on this one. I early on spotted a slip in the cluing for 3dn – … Read more >>
Independent 10127 by Morph
Phi was not on his usual day, so I realised that something special was happening.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Financial Times 16,128 by WANDERER
An excellent challenge from WANDERER this Friday. Rarely see so many interwoven clues in a single crossword. Needed dictionary verification for a couple of new words for me.
Guardian Cryptic 27,781 by Enigmatist
Very tough going, with a quite a bit of checking and parsing after the fact. Favourites were 17ac, 26/6, 7dn, and 18/28. Thanks to Enigmatist for the workout. Edit: and congratulations to Enigmatist – thanks to crypticsue for pointing out that this is the 40th anniversary of John’s first Guardian puzzle.