A first outing of 2024 for Arachne, I think…and lucky me that it falls on my blog slot…
Financial Times 17,889 by MUDD
A nice challenge from MUDD this Friday.
Independent 11882 / Phi
It’s Friday so, unsurprisingly we have an Independent puzzle from Phi. I struggled a bit with the intended definition for TOSSPOT (1 across). Is the clue an &Lit or is … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 29,535 by Harpo
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29535.
Independent 11,881 by Twin
A Thursday morning challenge from Twin.
Guardian 29,534 / Maskarade
It’s only three weeks since I blogged the last Maskarade puzzle – and there’s a clear sense of déjà vu at 22dn. I found this mostly straightforward, with a fair mix of anagrams … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,888 by STEERPIKE
Steerpike has provided this morning’s challenge.
Enigmatic Variations No.1666 – DROP by proXimal
“All clues are normal, but a letter must DROP out wherever it occurs before entry in each down answer. Dropped letters, in clue order, spell two phrases pinpointing a year when an event befell the unclued entry. In the final grid, the event must be re-enacted by replacing one entry with another leaving empty cells. All entries are real words or names at every stage (ignoring gaps).”
Guardian Cryptic 29,533 by Vlad
A tough solve – I particularly liked 12ac, 13ac, 21dn, and 25dn. Thanks to Vlad for the puzzle.
Independent 11,880 by Eccles
Eccles appears again in the mid-week slot.
Financial Times 17,887 by MONK
Great fun from Monk as ever.
Independent 11,879 / Madcap
Today is Tuesday, 5th November. I wonder what theme Madcap might have brought along with today’s crossword. Today’s ghost theme is Bonfire Night, with the clues (15, 20, 26, 27 …) and the … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1879: Looking for Inspiration by Nimrod
We have an Inquisitor this week set by Nimrod, one of the pseudonyms used by John Henderson who is the editor of the Inquisitor series. Usually a Nimrod puzzle is quite a challenge … Read more >>
Guardian 29,532 – Jack
Quite easy by this setter’s standard, I thought, but ingenious and enjoyable as ever. Thanks to Jack. Jack’s puzzles (and those of his alter egos Serpent and Basilisk) usually include a Nina of … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,886 by GAFF
Today’s puzzle brings a slightly offbeat collection of clues from Gaff . . .