Inquisitor 1115 – Vanishing Scream by Dysart
I started quite slowly with this puzzle, but that turned out to be a good thing… The theme turned out to be one of the stock ones for barred-grid puzzles – Sherlock Holmes, … Read more >>
Independent 7301 by Punk
This was very good indeed. nmsindy has admitted to weaknesses esp films but is prepared to admit to a strength, football, which was v helpful here. Solving time, 50 mins. Thematic words 13 … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,331 / Alberich
I covered Alberich’s first FT puzzle eighteen months ago and my opening comment was “I don’t think I have ever completed an FT quite so quickly, the answers just seemed to enter themselves”. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1047 by Quixote 7 March 2010
An in-bed solve, lasting perhaps 25 minutes. ACROSS 1. R(AD)OME 4. S POKE N 8. PALL OR 9. SOLSTICE (it’s close)* 10. CO M MAN DAN T 11. HANK dd Hank Marvin of … Read more >>
Guardian 24,955 / Brummie
A rather rushed post, I’m afraid, so apologies for errors and omissions, which I probably won’t be able to fix until much later. Overall, an enjoyable puzzle, with the odd bit of tough … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,322 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword from 1 March 2010 A not-too-difficult week-opening puzzle from Crux … the Monday FT series is eminently suitable for beginners to cryptic crosswords to cut their teeth on. On my … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,321 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of February 27 The nominees for best charade are 17A, 18A, 21A and 8D. And the winner is 8D! For best anagram or anagram-combination, the nominees are … Read more >>
Guardian 24,954 / Chifonie
I haven’t much to say about this puzzle. There is nothing contentious, I think, but, for me, no ‘ahas’ or smiles, either, and too many charades, my least favourite type of clue. Across … Read more >>
Independent 7,300 by Dac
A mixed one for me, having raced through all but three clues in mere minutes, to find myself completely stumped on 10, 25 and 28. I’ll blame the fact that today’s post has … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,330 / Io
A pretty challenging puzzle, with a rather curiously chosen mini-theme. My own personal recommendation from the menu would be a No. 5, a No. 11 and a No. 25. Across 1 CAPITALLY – … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,329 / Armonie
I breezed through three-quarters of this puzzle in five or ten minutes, then got stuck for a while on the last four or five clues. I am still not sure of 25 down. … Read more >>
Independent 7,299/Radian
Seems to have been a while since I blogged a Radian puzzle, so nice of him to pop up. There’s a good ornithological theme to this one, with references in many clues and … Read more >>
Guardian 24953 – Gordius
Another mixed bag of goodies from Gordius with many standard devices and some not-so-standard devices like 10A and 19D. Quite challenging overall and entertaining in parts – don’t we all snicker after solving … Read more >>
Independent 7298 by Eimi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism It’s probably a first for me to be blogging the same compiler two Mondays running. This one seems to be timed to coincide with … Read more >>
Guardian 24,952 – Rufus
The usual gentle start to the week with Rufus. There are only five cryptic definitions in this puzzle, which I think is less than the average, though I was fooled for a while … Read more >>