Financial Times 16,655 by GOZO
A themed puzzle today, but a topic many will be familiar with. Thank you Gozo. The across solutions are all plants, mostly garden plants. ACROSS 1 CATNIP First of customers returns bottle of … Read more >>
Month: December 2020
Independent 10,658 by Eccles
It’s Wednesday and we have an Eccles to blog. What else can we say, that hasn’t been said before in previous blogs? Always a pleasure to solve – we’ve already said that. Neat … Read more >>
Guardian 28,312 – Vlad
Vlad likes a bit of politics in his puzzles, and I think it’s no giveaway to say that here we are talking about the post-election shenanigans in the US, with all but handful … Read more >>
Independent 10,657 / Radian
Today’s puzzle has been set for us by Radian. I found this to be a medium-to-hard puzzle, and I made slower progress through it than at first I expected that I would. I … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1675: Queen of the North by Phi
Queen of the North by Phi Several squares will need to contain multiple letters for the clue answers to fit – solvers should replace these with the same appropriate symbol. The solutions … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,654 by HAMILTON
Hamilton at his most generous. Straightforward and entertaining stuff from my sometime Nemesis. Quirky as ever, but no complaints this morning and some moments of real pleasure. Thanks, Hamilton. ACROSS 1, 8 HELL … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,311 by Nutmeg
A typical Nutmeg offering this morning. When you see that the setter is Nutmeg, you know what you're going to get – clever clues, neat surfaces and a mental stretching exercise that won't … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1099 Pasquale
Thank you to Pasquale. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 4. Fellow one met at church in tight garment (6) BODICE : BOD(informal term for a “fellow”/person) + I(Roman numeral for “one”) … Read more >>
Independent 10,656 by Alchemi
Alchemi has brewed up an enjoyable Monday morning challenge: mostly straightforward but with a few tricky bits. Lots of good surfaces and amusing misdirections. I liked the obvious-when-you-see-it 12d and the sneaky cryptic … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,653 by VELIA
VELIA kicks off the week… A pretty straightforward solve this morning, 24d providing the only slight quirk. Rather a lot of “sounds like” type clues I thought. Thanks VELIA! ACROSS 1. Footballers’ kit: … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,310 by Matilda
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28310. Matilda has been gracing the Quiptic and Cryptic slots for eighteen months now, and has been getting plaudits in both; this is no exception. I found … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,606 by Hoskins
The puzzle can be found here. Hello and happy Sunday. Sorry the blog is a little later than usual: real life getting in the way. However much “real life” is happening, Hoskins … Read more >>
Azed No 2,529
A puzzle with a distinct French character this week. Two French phrases and one word of French extraction as well as some Scottish terms in a generous grid with no fewer than four … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 209 / Paul
This month we have another of Paul’s whimsical puzzles with which to do battle. Having read the preamble regarding possible book titles and authors, my first step was to highlight the clue numbers … Read more >>
Everyman 3,868
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3868. I found this considerably easier than last week’s Everyman, but with rather too many questionable details. ACROSS 1 TRENCH COAT Hector can’t change into outerwear (6,4) … Read more >>