Beelzebub 1,185
Quite a tough week, with lots of good vocabulary to discover. Perhaps a grid we haven’t seen before, as I don’t remember ever blogging a Beelzebub with quite so many across clues. *=anag, … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,187 by Noz
I’m not familiar with the name “Noz”, and a trawl through the archives finds nothing, so I wonder if we have a brand new setter with us today. If that is the case, … Read more >>
AZED No. 2,111 ‘Letters Latent’
Nick: A fairly difficult Azed this week being a Letters Latent puzzle. He does give a way in though with the comment in the preamble about anagrams (for those that are new to … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3450 (18th November)
Lorraine: Good morning happy solvers. Nice flowing crossword this week I thought, particular favourites were 4, 14, 18 and 27ac. 8, 11 and 16dn. There should not have been anything too taxing although if … Read more >>
A change when adding comments – please read
This site currently receives over 65,000 spam comments each month. The vast majority of these (>99.9%) are intercepted by the excellent Akismet spam filter and so never appear on posts but they are … Read more >>
Independent Crossword 8142 by Anax (Saturday prize puzzle 17-11-2012)
It’s Saturday and another duel with Anax – who appears to be saving on the word count this week. Well we are in a recession! So a majority of short clues this week, that … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1044: Seven Things by Wiglaf
Wiglaf is a new name to me – and doesn’t seem to appear anywhere else on 15×15, so is either a new setter. or one of those occasional collaborations of setters(?). Either way … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle 25,796 by Araucaria
I enjoyed this one very much, sort of middling in difficulty I would say. The crossword does not have theme as such, more of a game of word-association. The idea of France/French seemed … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,169 by Mudd
Absolutely brilliant Across 1 BUTTERSCOTCH (sweet) BUTTER (goat) SCOTCH (drink) 10 RECITAL (performance) (CLEAR IT)* 11 TORONTO (Canadian city) OR (gold) in TONTO (Lone Ranger brave) 12 WHIRR (turn) first … Read more >>
Independent 8147 / Phi
This was another enjoyable puzzle from Phi. There was nothing too difficult or obscure in terms of entries or knowledge required to solve the clues. I downloaded this puzzle a … Read more >>
Guardian 25,801 – Gordius
This was mostly pretty easy, with a lot of write-straight-in answers. Some clues are fine, but as is often the case with Gordius a significant proportion them don’t stand up to close scrutiny. … Read more >>
Independent 8146/Radian
Radian has given us a pleasant crossword today themed largely around 16ac, which is connected with many of the clues. I have my doubts about 15dn, although perhaps I have it quite wrong … Read more >>
Financial Times no.14,168 by Orense
I’m going to be accused of peacocking again if I say that this was a doddle… so instead I’ll say that it was an enjoyable, playful puzzle, with a nice mix of mechanisms; … Read more >>
Guardian 25,800 – Puck
Found this very tricky, but really enjoyed the various uses [and non-use] of the interlinked clues. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to parse 1dn yet – would appreciate any help. Edit: thanks to … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,159 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword/Nov 12 After two Monday Prize Crosswords that got me on the edge of my seat, this Dante puzzle was really plain sailing. As always, definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or … Read more >>