Wandering from my usual Guardian beat, I find a puzzle by John Dawson, whom I know better as his alter ego Chifonie; the results are much the same, with straightforward clue construction, smooth surfaces and some ingenious misdirection. John Dawson gives his main interests as crosswords, music, and walking in the Lake District. Could one ask for anything more?
Guardian 25,528 – Gordius
Today’s puzzle is very entertaining with many lovely and clever devices. When I say I found a puzzle easy (like I did last week) it probably meant that I took less than 10 … Read more >>
Independent 7873 by Quixote
Quixote’s first Indy appearance of 2012 and the usual excellent puzzle. A little on the easy side even by Quixote’s accessible standards, I found. Solving time, 15 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 1 … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 634 / Moley
It’s been over a year since I reviewed one of Moley’s Quiptics, and little has changed. This is yet another very ordinary crossword, notable only for the inclusion of 15 anagrams in 29 … Read more >>
Guardian 25,527 – Brendan
Brendan is becoming quite a regular as stand-in for Rufus on his occasional Mondays off, and this was a typically enjoyable puzzle, and mostly not too hard, though with a theme that might … Read more >>
Cyclops 454: Did you have a luvvie-ly time?
Here’s hoping you all had a splendid time over the holidays, and wishing you a very happy and (cruciverbally, at the very least) successful 2012. This blog is due to appear for tomorrow … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3404 (1st January)
Lorraine: Good morning to you all and a very happy new year. Very straight forward this week, can’t say anything had me stumped. Plenty of my old favourites being the anagram. Big thanks to … Read more >>
Azed 2065
After the hours I spent on the Christmas crossword two weeks ago, this one came as welcome relief. Not that it was easy: Azed never is, for me at any rate, but this … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,141 by Poins
This puzzle did not leave me very happy as I couldn’t see the word-play in 23Across and took ages to stumble on the conjointed INTO in 29Across. Not a very satisfactory state of … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 998: Nativity by Oxymoron
Only ten weeks since the last Oxymoron EV (988, Pairs), but I, for one, am not complaining. One letter or (in five cases) word to be removed from each clue, and they would … Read more >>
Guardian 25,520 / Paul
An enjoyable prize puzzle from Paul, which seemed mostly straightforward except for some general knowledge I was lacking with regard to the theme… … which was Mexican people and things. I don’t quite … Read more >>
Independent 7866 by Eimi (Saturday Prize Puzzle 31 December 2011)
A pleasant puzzle to round the year off – with a number of clue readings and answers nodding respectfully to the date, and a lovely clue at 18D, which I am considering adopting … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 100003 Round Number by Nutmeg (Online 25/12/2011)
Well a crossword published on Christmas day and what a preamble! There are three conflicts to resolve symbolically (historic events). There are historic events to highlight in the completed grid There are 3 … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,894 / Redshank
The last time I blogged a Redshank crossword, its theme took me a long time to decipher. This was easy enough to work out with 5a being one of the first answers in. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 25525 Tramp
Sorry for the later posting (long lunch). This was an enjoyable offering from Tramp (as we have come to expect from him). Well clued and neat surfaces. Thanks Tramp. Definitions are underlined in … Read more >>