Independent

Solving time : yonks, bits of two 40 minute bus journeys with interruptions This is a delayed post due to problems uploading the review last night, Neil stepping in when I didn’t appear. … Read more >>

Solving time: 11:30 First step: have a look at the grid. Notice that starting at the black cross next to 12, and emerging at the other side in the one next to 22, … Read more >>

A superb offering from Monk, one of my favourite setters. This was fairly easy in parts (I did half of it in about 15 minutes) but the NE corner was fiendishly difficult. Tough … Read more >>

Solving time 15:40 I like to see Scorpion puzzles, and I’m pleased to be writing the first Scorpion posting here on “225” – here’s why. From time to time, would-be setters send me … Read more >>

Solving time : about 20 minutes A classic Phi puzzle, very fair Ximenean clues with a few cryptic definitions thrown into the mix. Across 1 PAST+ORAL — ORAL is always a good guess … Read more >>

Quixote is, as most will know, Don Manley of the Chambers Crossword Manual, the 4th edtion of which has recently appeared. Highly recommended, especially for help in explaining all the clue types and … Read more >>

Solving time: 6:04 An impressive 11 answers on a 24dn theme, though only 13ac, 14dn and possibly 16ac are likely to have caused any difficulty for anyone with only a passing knowledge. I … Read more >>

This had all the attributes I associate with Dac – flowing clues, variation, trickery, always accessible in the end. Average in difficulty for a Dac for me – solved in 17 mins. ACROSS … Read more >>

If you’re familiar with Virgilius (Brendan in the Guardian) you were probably expecting some sort of theme or grid wizardry when you saw today’s puzzle. Somewhat surprising then, to discover that today’s is … Read more >>

(a rival entry for the other I just glimpsed – let’s see how far we agree on clues to write about…)  Solving time 4:32 … which is my view of Phi puzzles in general … Read more >>

Phi is another of the Indy’s weekly regulars.     I first encountered him in advanced puzzles.   Puzzles characterised by very accurate construction – I find I always understand the answer, once found.   This make … Read more >>

Solving time : ? done in dribs and drabs through the day As I started to solve this puzzle I quickly realised it might be pangrammatic as I’d got a Z, X and … Read more >>

Dac is one of the 5 setters who appears in the Indy (including IoS) every week. One of the best clue writers around – clues always reading very well. Noting solving times over … Read more >>