A puzzle from Brunel that fits the ‘serious daily cryptic’ definition pretty well, I thought.
Pierre
Everyman 4,105/22 June
Alan Connor continues as the setter of the Everyman under the paper’s new ownership. Another sound puzzle from him here.
Guardian Quiptic 1,335/Chandler
Chandler is a regular but not particularly frequent setter of the Quiptic, and also produces crosswords for the Quick Cryptic slot in the Guardian.
Independent 12,064/Hippogryph
A sound and entertaining puzzle from Hippogryph to get the puzzling week in the Independent underway.
Guardian Quiptic 1.333/Pasquale
Pasquale always offers us a carefully constructed and tractable crossword when he is in the Quiptic slot.
Independent on Sunday 1,841/Filbert
Filbert is most often to be seen these days in the Independent on Sunday slot. I found this an enjoyable challenge which took a while to tease out, but fell nicely once I had a bit of a foothold in the grid. Some delightful surfaces as always from this setter.
Everyman 4,101/25 May
New owners at The Observer, but happily for Everyman fans, the same old crossword. All the trademark clues in a pleasing and tractable cryptic.
Guardian Quiptic 1,331/Carpathian
Carpathian is a favourite among newer solvers because her Quiptics are generally approachable and clearly clued.
Independent 12,046/Gila
We begin the crosswording week in the Independent with a puzzle from Gila that fits perfectly into a weekday paper serious cryptic slot, I think.
Guardian Quiptic 1,329/Harpo
Harpo established themselves as a setter of Guardian cryptics around three year ago, but this is only the second Quiptic that they have compiled.
Independent on Sunday 1,837/Bluejacket
Only Bluejacket’s second appearance in the Independent after a debut last month. I blogged that first puzzle and said very positive things about it, and I’m about to do the same for this one.
Everyman 4,097/27 April
New owner, same crossword, same setter … a big day for The Observer, but what looks like for now the same Everyman crossword that has been in the paper for the last 80 years, compiled by a number of setters but always intended as a tractable Sunday cryptic. Who knows if things will change, but for now let’s see what this week’s puzzle had to offer.
Independent 12,028/Coot
A pleasing and reasonably accessible puzzle from Coot to start the Indy crosswording week.
Guardian Quiptic 1,327/Pasquale
One of the editor’s best decisions since he took over the role a few years ago now was to give Pasquale a regular Quiptic slot. He always hits the mark, I find.
Guardian Quiptic 1,325/Chandler
A solid and pleasing Quiptic from Chandler this morning with my apologies for a slightly truncated blog. Some IT issues this morning.