An excellent friday challenge from a familiar setter on the FT but not so much on Fridays. Thanks Mudd!!
Independent 9,421 / Phi
Phi’s latest offering rounds off the working week and heralds the transition to the seasonal jumbos in various newspapers and magazines. It is unlike me ever to spot a theme in a Phi … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27075 Screw
The last couple slowed me down, otherwise a nice one from Screw, to whom thanks. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Kids grabbing parent’s front or back (7) SPONSOR : SONS(kids;children) … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,430 by WANDERER
A rushed affair this morning…
Independent 9420 / Daedalus
Daedalus has featured a few times in the Independent or Independent on Sunday over the past two years but I think this is the first time I have blogged one of his / … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,074 by Paul
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27074.
Financial Times 15,429 by JULIUS
A super puzzle: varied, challenging and entertaining. There is one solution I cannot explain, any help appreciated. Thank you Julius.
Guardian 27,073 / Puck
A typically puckish Puck puzzle to brighten up a dull morning, with lots of wit and misdirection, as usual. Some very straightforward clues [9ac and 17dn, for example] mingled with some [like 7dn] … Read more >>
Independent 9,419 by Dac
What more is there to say about Dac? The surfaces and the accuracy of construction are right up to their usual standards.
Financial Times 15,420 by Rosa Klebb
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 10, 2016
Inquisitor 1468: Rule by Ifor
Ifor is becoming (has become?) quite a regular. Preamble: Before solving, each Down clue must be made smaller by a single letter; the surface reading usually suffers. Reading these letters in correct … Read more >>
Independent 9418 / Hieroglyph
Many apologies for the late posting of the blog – we got our dates wrong! A fairly straightforward puzzle (fortunately for us!!) from Hieroglyph today, with a theme around the evergreen Christmas film … Read more >>
Financial Times 15428 Crux
Thanks to Crux for quite an easy start to the week. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 French writer‘s false arrest (6) SARTRE : Anagram of(false) ARREST. Answer: Jean-Paul, French writer … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,072 by Chifonie
Fairly gentle with a lot of nice clues – favourites were 22ac, 2dn and 24dn. Thanks to Chifonie