I found this a bit of a grind with lots of quite involved clues and a number of off-centre or obscure word usages making the clues seem more difficult than they actually were.
Independent
Independent on Sunday 1,399 by Peter
I think this is my first tangle with Peter, at least within a blogging context, though the Fifteensquared search reveals it isn’t a debut. I often find it tricky to get to grips … Read more >>
Independent 9,410 by S.park
Perhaps it’s just that the change of format to online-only no longer lends itself favourably to the quiet luxury of tackling a challenging puzzle over a leisurely pot of coffee or perhaps a … Read more >>
Independent 9,409 by Phi
Although this was no easier than Phi usually is, indeed rather tricky in places, most of these answers can be explained in one short parsing. So really quite simple despite appearances — to use what is rapidly becoming a cliché if it hasn’t done so already, the mark of a good setter.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Independent 9408 – Rodriguez
As far as we can tell, this is only the fourth Indy puzzle by Rodriguez, and it’s the second we’ve blogged. The previous puzzle was themed, so we have looked at this one … Read more >>
Independent 9,407 / Dac
It wouldn’t quite be Wednesday without a Dac, would it? My apologies for the disgracefully late posting, which was caused by my unexpectedly having to replace a colleague who fell ill this morning. … Read more >>
Independent 9406 / Knut
Knut’s forte is compiling topical puzzles. For reasons that may not be immediately obvious, this puzzle must have been compiled and edited within the space of seven days and possibly … Read more >>
Independent 9405/Punk
I haven’t had a Punk to blog for ages, so I was pleased to see his name come up in the Monday slot, because I like his puzzles. Cars were the theme … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1398/Hypnos
This must be the most difficult IoS puzzle I’ve solved/blogged for a long time. It took me three goes to get it to lie down, whereas normally I’m done and dusted before getting … Read more >>
Independent 9404 by Serpent
Sorry for the late delivery of this blog. Completely forgot it was my turn. I will have to work out how to wire my smoke alarm to the calendar alerts. We may be … Read more >>
Independent 9403 / Phi
It’s Friday, it’s the Indy, it’s Phi – nothing ever changes (well, only very occasionally). This is the second time in recent weeks that I have been able to spot a Phi theme … Read more >>
Independent 9,402 / Hob
Today’s puzzle has been supplied by Hob, a relative newcomer to the Indy fold. I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, with its ingenious but not overly demanding treatment of the theme of queens. The … Read more >>
Independent 9401 / Tees
Tees appears about once a month and for the third puzzle in a row he is stuck with me as the blogger. I think it’s fair to say that Tees’ … Read more >>
Independent 9,400 by Morph
It only occasionally I think falls to me to blog a crossword by Morph, but it is always enjoyable: by no means a write-in, but all his crosswords seem to contain one or two remarkably nice clues. A couple of clues go some way towards defeating me in their parsings, but no doubt all will be made clear.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Independent 9,399 by Eccles
Another Eccles for me today. The grid hinted at a Nina but I can’t see anything.