Guardian 26,223 / Tramp
A pleasant outing from Tramp with nothing too hard. There are three references to film actresses – does that make a theme? Across 1 Buffet snack served with wicked lunch (not cold) (7,8) … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1326: Caught in the Act by Ferret
The grid was only 11×11, there were no extra or missing letters, no hidden messages, just six unclued entries and two hidden words to find. I found it pretty easy, despite the longish … Read more >>
Financial Times 14585 Neo
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) An enjoyable puzzle, not difficult, unlike … Read more >>
Financial Times 14585 with Picture Quiz
(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow. To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.) An enjoyable puzzle, not difficult, unlike some of the setter’s other puzzles. Thanks to … Read more >>
Independent 8568 / Hob
Today is the 1st April and the date is referenced in the clues. My initial thought on reading through the clues in this puzzle was that we would be looking … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic N° 26,222 by Brendan
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26222. I had to cast about for an entry point to this puzzle, and eventually (with a little bit of luck) solved it from the bottom up, … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 750 / Beale
A workmanlike puzzle which, for me, lacked any clues with the “wow” factor. Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 12th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations used in the wordplay are … Read more >>
Guardian 26,221 / Rufus
Thanks to Rufus for a characteristic potpourri of anagrams and double and cryptic definitions to start the week. Across 9 Generally where the seas are high (2,3,4) IN THE MAIN Double definition 10 … Read more >>
Independent 8567 by Quixote
This was a well-written puzzle with some excellent surface readings (e.g. 14,4). It was mostly quite accessible, although a few (such as 1 and 7) required a little research to understand the parsing. … Read more >>
Private Eye / Cyclops 517 – Mayhem reporter
This one took more effort than most recent Eye crosswords. It didn’t help that I immediately and incorrectly entered ABSTAINING at 10A – I should have checked the anagram fodder – I did … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3520 (23rd March)
Lorraine: Good morning one and all. Great crossword this week, new to me this week was 4dn. Never heard of hugger-mugger before, it is not often at my age that you get to learn … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1257 Commoner
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) Not exactly a pushover for a … Read more >>
Azed 2181
A standard Azed this week with its usual mix of everyday and obscure words, all delivered from precise cluing. There’s always a few clues that give you a foothold, even … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1257 with Picture Quiz
(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow. To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.) Not exactly a pushover for a Sunday, but enjoyable, with many fine surface readings. … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,255
Another quite tough week, I found. I had barely half the grid filled before reaching for Chambers. That helped with confirming 16, 24 and 28 and things started to fall in quite smoothly … Read more >>