Guardian Quiptic 780/Provis
I’ll tell you what, I think this setter has got the hang of compiling a Quiptic. I enjoyed solving and blogging this one. One or two quibbles, but overall a well-crafted puzzle for … Read more >>
Pierre
Independent 8741/Crosophile
Donk a month or two ago with a Monday crossword that wasn’t exactly on the easy side; Tyrus giving everyone a hard time in last week’s Monday puzzle; now Crosophile is getting in … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1286/Kairos
A second IoS Kairos in a row for me to blog. I bigged him up a bit last time. Twice running? It was certainly an enjoyable and well-constructed puzzle. My favourites this morning … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 778/Pan
A pretty terse blog this morning (what do you mean, thank goodness for that?) I am on a mission today, so won’t be able to return here till much later. I do have … Read more >>
Everyman 3547/28 September
Another pleasing Sunday morning crossword from Everyman. One or two old chesnutty friends making an appearance, but it’s a puzzle for improving solvers, so we won’t quibble. Appearances from PORTIA and LADY MACBETH, … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 776/Moley
An unexceptionable Quiptic from Moley this morning. Which is what Quiptics are meant to be. Plenty of anagrams to get you going, and generally clear cluing otherwise. A good number of clues with … Read more >>
Independent 8723/Raich
The editor reverting to form today, giving us a gentle introduction to the week with a well-constructed and clearly-clued puzzle from Raich. Ideal for improving solvers and no doubt a pleasant stroll for … Read more >>
Independent 8719/Quixote
Quixote setting and me blogging on a Wednesday? The Indy crossword world is upside down. Not really: Quixote seems to be taking over the last Wednesday of the month slot; and I’m off … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1282/Kairos
I thought this was an excellent IoS puzzle from Kairos. Just one or two where I’m not entirely sure of my parsing. I don’t normally big up setters, because they are overweening and … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 774/Nutmeg
Nutmeg is now a regular setter of the Guardian cryptic, but she’s not forgotten how to do the ‘easy’ stuff. I liked this one. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition … Read more >>
Independent 7177/Phi – online version
We’re having quite a kerfuffle this morning. Because of ‘technical difficulties’, the puzzle in the paper by Phi isn’t the same as this one. So having never blogged a Phi puzzle before, I’ve … Read more >>
Independent 8705/Phi – paper version
Phi on a Monday? And we have a note in the paper saying that the online version is different ‘for technical reasons’. What’s occurring? Well, what’s occurring is another fine crossword from … Read more >>
Everyman 3543/31 August
Another sound as a pound puzzle from Everyman. Struggled with the bottom half this morning. It’s all there, though: when in doubt, read the instructions. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 772/Pan
I thought this was a super Quiptic from Pan. Clear and witty cluing; no obscurities; friendly grid. What more do you want on a Monday morning? Abbreviations cd … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1278/Raich
Always a pleasure to get a Raich puzzle to solve and blog. Only a couple that held me up here, and those were down to my muppetry rather than the quality of the … Read more >>