kenmac

In early 2022 I took over administration for this site. Born 1954. I've been fascinated by cryptic crosswords since childhood. My mother used to attempt the Daily Mail cryptic every day but I don't remember her ever finishing one. Then, when I started working, a colleague would bring in The Telegraph every day. It wasn't till my daughter started to get interested, when I bought her a "how to" book that I realized that the definition is "always" the first word (or words) or the last word (or words) of the clue. In 2000 I discovered the, then, Independent Weekend Crossword (now Inquisitor) and later Enigmatic Variations and The Listener. I solve The Inquisitor most weeks and won the Champagne once. In 2005 I achieved an ambition by having a barred crossword published in The Independent using the pseudonym Cayenne. Then I had another one in 2015 in collaboration with Anax. This was Inquisitor 1839.

Inquisitor 1315: Affliction by ‘Eck

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Preamble:  A number of clues are afflicted and solvers are advised to follow an expert’s remedy. Having initially found the expert and the affliction, solvers must highlight the remedy in the grid (38 cells). By ‘Eck? By ‘eck, what’s going … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1303: Persuasion by Phi

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Preamble: Starting at an unchecked square in the top row, the clockwise perimeter contains a 7-word non-English phrase. Unchecked letters, including corners, rearrange to give I SUB A HAIRCUT. Four clues omit a shared thematic definition. The other 34 clues include a … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1295: Waiter by Phi

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Preamble: Unnumbered, unclued down entries have something in common with the individual given by the three unclued across answers in order, thanks to 6 down (also unclued). The link is given by the … Read more >>