Guardian 25,291 / Araucaria
This was quite a struggle from start to finish, but there were, as usual, a few ‘doh!’ and ‘how clever!’ moments as I battled my way through it. I think therefore that this … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,663 / Jason
Shuchi is away today so I have the pleasure of covering this light-hearted puzzle from Jason. Nothing particularly difficult, in fact it was over all too quickly, but I was left feeling cheery, … Read more >>
Independent 7636 by Monk
Monk is back on the scene it seems, his web site used to say he hides his name in the grid. I can’t see it if he has though, but there are a … Read more >>
Guardian 25,290 / Brendan
Another wonderful puzzle from Brendan, with precise and elegant cluing. (I found the bottom half much easier than the top here, but perhaps that was just me…) Across 1. POUNDS Double definition: “Strikes” … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,662 / Hamilton
One of those puzzles that (unusually and belatedly) only struck me as being potentially tricky during the blogging process, rather than the solving process. It all seemed to drop into place quite readily … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,653 / Mudd
FT Prize Puzzle of Monday March 28 Good wordplay here, with some well-disguised definitions (16 across, 31 across). Nothing too hard, although it took me a while to spot the wordplay in clues … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,652 by Bradman
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of March 26 Bradman is, as far as I know, new to Weekend prize puzzles but I am familiar with him thanks to his weekday crosswords. His … Read more >>
Independent 7,635 / Dac
This was a more manageable puzzle to solve and to blog than one or two that have fallen to me in recent weeks. Unsurprisingly, it is up to Dac’s usual high standard, with … Read more >>
Guardian 25,289 / Paul
A fun puzzle from Paul today, with several instances of his trademark humour – all straightforwardly clued, I think. Across 1 BASENJI: BASE [bottom] + J [‘jay, we hear’] in reversal of IN: … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,661 by IO
A bit of a rush job today I’m afraid, I am travelling abroad and don’t have much access to the internet and no printer, so had to try to solve this without a grid to … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1170 Forevermoor by Rasputin
A new Setter! I haven’t come across Rasputin before, and a very tricky crossword it was too! There was an error in the rubric, which was a bad start, but it was pretty … Read more >>
Independent 7,634 / Punk
The second Punk puzzle I’ve landed on the trot. I don’t have any problem with that! This was a doozy, with many references to a pastime which – along with crosswords – has … Read more >>
Financial Times 13660 Armonie
Worked myself up from the bottom row, having got none of the top half acrosses on the first pass. But quite a quick solve in the end. Enjoyable, straightforward clueing with no obscurities. Thanks … Read more >>
Guardian 25288 / Brummie
Brummie is one who can tantalise and amuse but his Guardian offerings are quite tame. I wish he would introduce more of his Cyclopic style here but then the Eye wouldn’t be unique, … Read more >>
Independent 7633 by Quixote
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A warm welcome to Quixote, who is switching from the IOS to a regular Monday slot in the weekday paper. This was very much … Read more >>