Independent on Sunday 1,227 by Hypnos
Another fine puzzle from Hypnos, which seemed neither too hard or too easy. I briefly wondered if a theme was in the offing, centred around the actor at 20ac, who has recently passed … Read more >>
Simon Harding
Beelzebub 1,223
A reasonably smooth solve this week, perhaps due to some relatively uncomplicated wordplay in parts, and generally more accessible vocabulary than some weeks. Still there were a few to check in Chambers, and … Read more >>
Independent 8,363 by Tyrus (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 03/08/13)
If this post is a little on the late side, I’m fairly sure anyone who has tried to solve the puzzle will forgive me. This was what one can only describe as hopelessly … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,221
A relatively swift solve at first, though with plenty to check in Chambers before I could quite finish, let alone prepare a blog. Lots of abbreviations and reversals this week. 28ac partly escapes … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,223 by Hypnos
The third Sunday Hypnos puzzle I’ve drawn in a row, which is no doubt far more tedious for Hypnos than it is for me. This one provided quite a stiff challenge, requiring two … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,219
Whilst I’d hesitate to ever use the word “easy” about a Beelzebub puzzle, this one certainly seemed to reside at the more tractable end of the spectrum. I managed to finish unaided in … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,219 by Hypnos
A rare online solve for me, not having been able to get hold of a paper last week. Good stuff once again from Hypnos, of course, and everything seemed to fit into place … Read more >>
Independent 8,333 by Nimrod (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 29/06/13)
There are a few remaining gaps in my parsing, and a few I just don’t feel comfortable about. Help always welcome in both cases. Across 8 DIASPORA Migrants told to return almost left … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,215
A good tough week, I found, though everything fell into place in the end. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 SECONAL – CON in SEAL. 6 NAPPA – NAP … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,215 by Hypnos
Another good Sunday puzzle from Hypnos, with a range of difficulties, though nothing overly troublesome. 10ac and 11ac put up a bit of a fight for me, though in retrospect they seem perfectly … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,213
Post number 350 for me, and a tough week indeed. I made a very quick start, but ground to a halt with about a dozen entries down. Even taking Beelzebub to the pub … Read more >>
Independent 8,303 by Bannsider (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 25/05/13)
This was a funny old puzzle. I raced through about 90% of it without blinking, then completely ground to a halt on the last handful. Even with a week to think about it … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,211
This seemed a very tough week for me, though on blogging I’m not sure why, as everything seems to make sense. I suspect it was a combination of some tough vocabulary plus a … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,209
The same weekend that Inquisitor is moved into the main paper, Beelzebub benefits from almost double the space we’re used to. The grid is commensurately huge, while the clues remain printed in the … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,211 by eXternal
I think we welcome another new setter to the IoS this week, though I do recall one or two Inquisitors set by eXternal quite recently. This was a good puzzle, which required a … Read more >>