Guardian 26,223 / Tramp
A pleasant outing from Tramp with nothing too hard. There are three references to film actresses – does that make a theme? Across 1 Buffet snack served with wicked lunch (not cold) (7,8) … Read more >>
Writinghawk
Guardian Quiptic 749 / Nutmeg
Nutmeg has as ever provided a nice crossword at a reasonably simple level, though the smooth surfaces may lead solvers up a few blind alleys. Anagrams are comparatively thin on the ground, but … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 745 / Provis
Provis appears to be a brand new setter, who has started with a well-judged Quiptic, with nothing too hard for improving solvers. Across 1 Worries over the French game (8) FEARLESS Worries or … Read more >>
Guardian 26186 / Puck
A wonderful mix of the erudite and the scatological from the ever-inventive Puck. Not since the passing of Araucaria have I learned so much general knowledge – or deployed so much I already … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 741 / Moley
Perhaps the setters are cycling in sync with the bloggers, since I’ve got Moley again. This one seemed just right for a Quiptic, the clues straightforward as they should be and a good … Read more >>
Guardian 26,156 / Philistine
A very straightforward puzzle from Philistine, but with some nice touches. Across 1 Attend tailor, me? Unlikely (14) TATTERDEMALION (ATTEND TAILOR ME)* &lit. A tatterdemalion is hardly likely to attend a tailor’s shop. … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 737 – Moley
Parts of this were certainly very easy but on the whole I thought it was rather hard for a Quiptic – partly because some clues were a bit woolly. Across 1 Tell cockney … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 733 / Nutmeg
As you probably discovered, having so many unchecked letters at the start of words makes a crossword a bit harder to start with, but the ‘unchecked’ first letters were really checked after all … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 729 / Orlando
A typical delight from Orlando – the clues are very straightforward as befits a Quiptic, yet carefully crafted to give smooth and witty surface readings. Across 1 In France you rent — landlord … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 725 / Nutmeg
This enjoyable crossword from Nutmeg provides a tour through most of the tricks a setter uses. I thought it on the tough side for a Quiptic, but fair, since it didn’t use obscure … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26,070 / Chifonie
A limpid and perfectly judged crossword from Chifonie. I found the clues kept me working very hard throughout without ever leaving me really stuck for long – just at the level where I … Read more >>
Independent Cryptic 8413 / Hob
An extremely clever and tortuous crossword from Hob, but a bit too much for me on a Tuesday morning. The theme revealed its secrets only slowly, and even then the puzzle didn’t become … Read more >>
Guardian 26,051 by Paul
I woke up early to finish this crossword off, and in my sleep-drugged state finished yesterday’s Arachne instead which I had opened in my browser last night. A happy mistake – Arachne was … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 721 / Hectence
Rather tricky for a Quiptic, wasn’t it? In addition Hectence makes very free use throughout of two devices that even moderate purists will not approve of. The first is freely running words together … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 717 / Orlando
Greetings from a newcomer to 15^2, where I am joining the Quiptic team. I’m delighted to be here, since the Quiptic is a splendid institution, and doubly so to be starting with this … Read more >>