All present and correct. I found this very pleasurable, not the hardest AZED but a nicely consistent level of difficulty from the start to the finish. Thank you Azed.
Independent 9476 / Hob
Wow – this was a toughie from Hob – but that is what we have come to expect. We might have found it a little easier if we had been familiar with the … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1265 Association by Maranga
12 thematic clues with an associated definition and an extra thematic word. The remainder are normal. As preambles go quite long but straight forward. It took me a while to get the theme … Read more >>
Guardian 27,124 / Boatman
A clever and entertaining puzzle with some excellent clues, rather let down for me by bad rubric… The rubric, after replacing the numbers with their answers, read: Seven theme clues require ALBPHABETISING THREE … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,482 by BRADMAN
A mixed bag from the DON this morning, thanks to whom for an interesting challenge. The few clues that held me up accounted for 90% of the solve time! 🙂
Guardian 27,129 – Qaos
Good fun from Qaos (with reservations on a couple of clues). As almost always with this setter we have a “ghost theme” in the solutions… … in this case John le Carré’s novel … Read more >>
Independent 9475 / Phi
It’s the end of the week and as expected, we have a Phi to solve. For a change, we actually spotted the ‘theme’, although not until we had completed it. As usual, … Read more >>
Independent 9,474 / Klingsor
Klingsor is occupying the Thursday slot this week. I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, which is pitched at exactly the right level for a mid-week solve, i.e. not to straightforward, but at the same … Read more >>
Guardian 27,128 / Vlad
I found this tough, very tough in places, but that is what I’ve come to expect from this setter. My first, quick pass through the clues resulted in less than a handful of entries … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,481 by PETO
One of those puzzles that takes longer to blog than to solve.
Financial Times 15,472 – Mudd
Monday Prize Crossword / Feb 13, 2017
This took me slightly longer than the average Mudd.
Very enjoyable, with some naughtiness included too.
Financial Times 15,471 by Rosa Klebb
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of February 11, 2017
Financial Times 15,480 by GOZO
Super puzzle, albeit one that might be difficult to finish without access to reference materials. Thank you Gozo.
Independent 9473 / Tees
Tees in for Dac on Wednesday this week. There’s a little bit of retail therapy in the outside columns today with BARGAIN BASEMENT in column 1 and DEPARTMENT STORE in … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,127 by Puck
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27127.