Pete Maclean

Here’s one of those Cinephile’s that falls out fairly easily once one detects the theme: in this case, Scottish things. Across 1. REGICIDE – IC (in charge) in RIDE (journey). I learned something … Read more >>

The top right corner of this puzzle was hard going for me. I particularly found 11A, 13A and 5D challenging and I do not understand how 8D works. Then I was totally stumped … Read more >>

So, I am getting to know Falcon now. This was a little more difficult than the few of his I have done before. Clue 5A in particular took me a while. Across 1. … Read more >>

An easy Mudd this time around. 19D was the only clue that stumped me for a while. Across 1. HOPPER – [c]HOPPER 4. SCHOONER – CH (companion) in SOONER (rather) 9. READER – … Read more >>

I found this Cincinnus distinctly more difficult than I am used to. Did others feel the same? It carries on his elegant quality with great clues such as 13A, 19A, 5D and 24D. … Read more >>

Mudd kept me busy for a while with this one. 21D strikes me as an interesting case: I believe it works perfectly as a cryptic definition yet the cryptic-ness of it seems rather … Read more >>

A mostly easy but excellent puzzle from Falcon with one clue (3D), the wordplay of which I failed to fully fathom. 21A was tricky because while I am familiar with expressions “as easy … Read more >>

Mudd gave me a very satisfying challenge this week. I especially like 13A, 20A, 24A, 6D and 18D. I found 4A tricky; I guessed the answer quickly but took a while to figure … Read more >>

I found this puzzle rather difficult even after catching on to the theme, climate change. I got 18A wrong and did not find the solution to 17D. A few clues that struck me … Read more >>

Ah, my second Falcon puzzle to blog. This proved moderately easy and somehow I even dredged CHOTA PEG (19A) out of the back of my mind. I love 20D and 10D is very … Read more >>

An easy puzzle from Cincinnus with a few typically brilliant clues (1A, 13A, 18A, 5D). Across 1. BEANS ON TOAST – anagram of NOT A SNOBS TEA. And a wonderfully English &lit to … Read more >>

This puzzle has no fewer than three clues that I lack a complete understanding of: 26A, 5D and 21D. My copy of the paper did not include the clue for 23D and I … Read more >>

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 >>