Pete Maclean

You know what it’s like when your mind wants an answer to be a particular word and won’t let go in the face of ridiculous amounts of evidence? Well, my mind so thought … Read more >>

Cinephile frequently does themed puzzles and works his themes in many different ways. Here we have the gentlest of themes: three clues that refer to the Dickens novel “The Old Curiosity Shop”. Across … Read more >>

Here’s what I like: a puzzle that is challenging but so good I finished it fairly easily. For all that, I fail to fully understand 7D. Across 1. SPECIMEN – S (small) + … Read more >>

Some snazzy clues here but also one that I could not solve (11D)! Across 1. SO CALLED – anagram of ALL CODES 5. SHAPES – S[tylis]H + APES (copies) 9. HESPERUS – HES … Read more >>

Here is Mudd in fine form. I found 16D difficult and still do not quite see how “go” is clued. Across 1. HARMLESS – ARM (weapon) + L (left) in HESS (Nazi). Great … Read more >>

A moderately tough one as Cincinnus puzzles go but, as usual, very satisfying. I found 4A, 25A and 23D challenging. I fail to fully understand 4A and 2D. And I was charmed by … Read more >>

Here is one of those characteristic Cinephile themed puzzles, this one with a fairly easy theme to spot — chickens. Across 1. CAPONE – CAPON (bird) + E (energy) 4. ASSAILED – ASS … Read more >>

An easier-than-usual Mudd this week. Across 1. SHELLAC – HELL (very hot) in SAC (bag) 5. MINARET – ERA (time) reversed in MINT (perfect) 9. GRUFF – [ribbin]G + RUFF (frill) 10. REPUGNANT … Read more >>

Another beauty from Cincinnus. Don’t you love 27A? Also great are 12A and 26D. Across 1. ABOVE SUSPICION – anagram of OBVIOUS IN SPACE 10. ALGOL – hidden word 11. NARRATION – ARR … Read more >>

I do not recall coming across Falcon before and am almost sure I have not done a Weekend FT puzzle by this compiler. I found this particular one very easy which is a … Read more >>

A fine, fairly easy (for me) puzzle. I especially liked 1D, 8D and 16D. Across 1. BRASSICAS – BRASS (money) + I (I) + CAS[t] (almost throw away) 6. PESOS – PE (exercises) … Read more >>

A fairly routine puzzle from Mudd here. I completed it fairly quickly because I found the clues for the three long answers easy. Still, 11A and 5D took some puzzling over. Across 9. … Read more >>

A moderately easy and thoroughly splendid offering from Cincinnus this week. It is a bit heavy on double-definition clues but there’s nothing wrong with that especially since only one of them is a … Read more >>

I had some trouble finishing this one. One reason was that I was unfamiliar with the expression “to wet the baby’s head”. It stems, I understand, from baptism but has come to mean … Read more >>

Cincinnus again brings us an enjoyable puzzle with a few brilliant clues. I particularly like 4D, 7D and 18D. Across 1. JOYSTICK – JOYS (delights) + TICK (parasite) 5. CHASER – double definition … Read more >>