Chalicea is a frequent setter of puzzles in the Inquisitor series. with two or three offerings each year.   Her puzzles provide an excellent introduction to themed barred crosswords.  Chalicea presents a wide … Read more >>

Opsimath is making what seems like his annual summer appearance.   Preamble: The wordplay in each across clue leads to the answer plus an extra letter, providing – in clue order – a … Read more >>

This was the second in a potential series by Eclogue, but the connection with the previous puzzle was tenuous to say the least. The previous Comings and Goings puzzle was the relativistic one … Read more >>

This week’s Inquisitor is set by Hedge-sparrow, a fairly prolific setter of barred crosswords in various publications.       There was quite a detailed preamble. It told us that "Clockwise from the … Read more >>

I am rather fond of puzzles by Ifor, and hope that this one won’t disappoint.   Preamble: One across clue in each row contains an extra word that can suffix a thematic word. … Read more >>

End of Line by Dysart Two entries are encoded forms of their clued answers, using a separate one-to-one substitution cipher for each (in one a letter maps itself). The change from answer to … Read more >>

The setters this week are eXternal and Serpent in their dual manifestation as eXtent.       The preamble told us that thirty consecutive clues contain an extra letter that must be removed … Read more >>

The Ace of Hearts makes his (almost) annual appearance.   Preamble: From the answer to each clue a letter must be deleted wherever it appears before entry into the grid; Definitions refer to … Read more >>

  Picnic by Kruger Clues are given in alphabetical order of their answers which must be entered where they will fit. However, two entries are unclued; together they form a pictorial representation of … Read more >>

Ifor is a fairly prolific setter of Inquisitor with one of his puzzles appearing every two or three months.       Ifor has served up a wide range of themes and cluing … Read more >>

Skylark completes the quartet in “Ladies’ Month” (though there is room for another one this April).  Preamble: Every clue but one contains an extra letter which should be removed before solving. In order, … Read more >>

I always enjoy Nutmeg puzzles, especially because of the nicely thought out and innovative end games. This was no exception. A very short rubric: The unclued 6-word slogan in the silvered cells could … Read more >>