HolyGhost

Started on cryptic crosswords as a late teenager and completed the Times daily until the Independent started. (Didn't do the crossword - just stopped reading the Times.) Often tackled the Independent weekend magazine crossword in the early and late 1990s (spent mid-90s in Bruxelles), and then most of them since moving out of London in summer 2000. I must say that my forays into the Listener used to prove more satisfying (except the number ones) - estimate 98% successful - but usually don't have enough discretionary time for both. Now that the Listener and the Inquisitor seem pretty level I rarely stray from tackling only the latter.

Inquisitor index

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“The series of crosswords, now known as Inquisitor, began in 1988, headed simply Crossword. It has since appeared every Saturday, except on Christmas Days and with one accidental omission. Changes in presentation have occurred, but the team of contributors has continued to develop naturally, as has the style. Today’s crossword is number 1106 in the series. In future, Inquisitor will be numbered accordingly.”
Mike Laws, Crossword Editor, Boxing Day 2009.
 
The first blog on this site, by Pete Biddlecombe, contains some more information on the name changes and number restarts.

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Inquisitor 1928: Dyno-Rod by Triton

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Two grids for the price of one this week.
 
Preamble: The answers must be entered in grid 2. Every clue has a misprint in the wordplay which must be corrected before solving; the correct letter is to be entered alongside the clue label in grid 1 (e.g. for clue A next to the letter A), while the letters replaced spell a message.

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Inquisitor 1916: Workout by Poat

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There have typically been about 100 puzzles between successive appearances by Poat, but the one prior to this was #1881 Get the Message, last November.
 
Preamble: Four creative works suggest how the answers to each group of clues must be treated. In the fifth group, each clue contains an extra letter which must be removed to enable solving; extras can be arranged to make the creator. The entry at 22dn is two words.

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Inquisitor 1912: Absences by Skylark

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Does Skylark herald the start of ladies’ month?
 
Preamble: From each of thirty-six clues, a letter must be removed before solving, giving items from a thematic group. From each of five other clues, a surplus word must be removed before solving. After inspecting the completed grid, solvers must enter absences below it.

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