nmsindy

I found this one fairly straightforward. Solving time: 14 mins * = anagram ACROSS 5 TEMP O RISE 7 CROW D Murder is a collective word for crows. 10 ANNE LI (51) DAN … Read more >>

This is Punk’s third puzzle in the Indy.     He’s Paul in the Guardian, who I’ve heard praised a lot, but he’s said to be hard, and he also sets in the Times.      So I approached … Read more >>

This puzzle reminded me of a year or two back when I thought the Quixote Sunday puzzle was pitched at an easier level than the daily Indy one. Would have been even quicker … Read more >>

Scorpion is, I find, the hardest of the Indy setters and this puzzle was no exception.    There were some novel approaches and some areas I am not entirely sure of all the reasoning.   These … Read more >>

This had all I’ve come to expect from Dac.   Excellent flowing surface readings, clever misdirection, a very satisfying solve, with all understood in the end.    A bit tougher than usual, maybe partly because … Read more >>

I found this quite tough – only one clue solved on first run through. Solving time: 30 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 C (HOO-CH)OO 9 V ENER(v)ATE Curious to add a v … Read more >>

Whether it was deliberate after the Bannsider debut yesterday, this was very straightforward.   I’d everything, except one, solved in 12 mins, but that took me another 10 mins to get so solving time … Read more >>

Top half much harder than bottom half for me, especially because the long phrase in 11 across was new to me.  Solving time, 25 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1  IN CUB A … Read more >>

This is only the second puzzle by Punk in the Indy, packed with cryptic definitions and imaginative clueing.   I noticed that Eimi, commenting on this site some time ago, said he was not … Read more >>

I found this tough, though guessing the theme when I solved straightaway the very first clue (BROWSER) which was a hidden. Grid filled with words associated with computers.    Some very inventive clueing, as I … Read more >>

Another good puzzle from Quixote including some treatments that were novelties for me. A little harder than his average. Solving time: 28 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 S (second) + KATE in … Read more >>

Very unusual puzzle, with some (for me) original treatments. Solving time: 31 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 CONVENIENCE Double definition (or punning definition) – just 7 letters to clue an 11-letter word! … Read more >>

Some explanation first: Since handheld computers first appeared I’ve kept personal records of my times solving the Indy Crossword (including the IoS), mainly to compare the setters. When those handhelds went into the … Read more >>

Lots of traditional Christmas references which forced some of the other words to be a little less familiar, I guess, but Quixote gave accessible clues for them. Reminded me of when I first … Read more >>

Another excellent puzzle by Merlin , which I mostly solved quickly but was slow to finish. Solving time: 21 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 GO (energy) + SPEL(l) (endless charm) 9 BEAT … Read more >>