John

As always with Dac, clue after clue hits the button. Across 1 SUBJECT — 2 defs 5 DA(STAR)D — although the similar word with a different initial letter has a similar meaning, at … Read more >>

A Remembrance Day-themed crossword from Eimi most of which was pleasant and accessible but which I found hard to finish. Help needed with 22dn, please. Across 1 MIMI C — I’m not keen on the … Read more >>

How is it possible, week after week, to say anything new about Dac? As always, the surfaces are elegant and smooth and there are no real points of contention, so far as I can … Read more >>

A typically nice crossword, but trickier than usual for Phi. Some long words were slow to come. Across 7 DOZE(n) 8 BOTTLENECK — I don’t really understand this — why wouldn’t you expect to find jam in … Read more >>

Several quite brilliant long anagrams in Dac’s typically excellent crossword today Across 1 POP SHOP — 2 defs 5 B(IOM)ASS 9 NO RM A 10/11 INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU — (counters a US police)* 12 … Read more >>

This little pig went to market, This little pig stayed at home, This little pig had roast beef, This little pig had none, And this little pig cried, Wee-wee-wee-wee-wee, I can’t find my … Read more >>

A typical Dac, full of elegant and tidy clues. I found most of it easier than usual, until I came up against 6dn. Across 1 PATCHES UP — Pa (the cups)* 6 CIVIC … Read more >>

What a relief. When no crossword appeared on Monday, I wondered if the Indy had quietly dropped it, but when I rang them they admitted their error. To do them justice, they did … Read more >>

I have only recently become aware of Radian, which suggests that he hasn’t been around for long. But with this crossword I had no feeling that he was in any way a novice: … Read more >>

The usual excellence from Phi. I suspect there’s a Nina that I can’t see, since 8dn is only mentioned in two clues, and if that’s all there is then it seems a bit … Read more >>

Having solved half of this fairly easily I became stuck for a longer period than usual. And this is not surprising in view of the fact that 10 of the 30 answers have … Read more >>

When people say things like “You’ve got to get on to the wavelength of the setter”, my inclination is to say “Rubbish. A cryptic is a cryptic and they all more or less … Read more >>

As usual an apparently perfect crossword from Dac — nothing remotely controversial, strong anagrams, sound clues with good surfaces. How he does it week after week I just don’t know. Across 1 RUMP … Read more >>