Guardian 24216/Brendan – in a Nobel cause
Solving time approx 16 mins. I spotted 10 winners of the Nobel Peace Prize – I think that’s all there are in it. And of course 8dn gives a strong hint to the … Read more >>
Independent 6559 by Dac
An excellent puzzle from Dac, one of the top setters. Solving time: 21 mins * = anagram ACROSS 8 GNAR (L) ED This has to be right, I think, esp with the L … Read more >>
Independent 6558/Virgilius
Cryptic crossword setters often borrow terminology from the world of 2D so a bridge-themed puzzle seems very appropriate. This cleverly constructed grid contains NORTH SOUTH EAST WEST in the places you would expect … Read more >>
Guardian No 24,215/Puck – the good, the bad and the ugly?
In my opinion, a mixture of brilliant clues (5, 10, 20) and some of the things I don’t like so much in puzzles (14, 24) and a couple of clues where I’m not … Read more >>
Guardian 24214/Rufus – not iffy
A typical balanced Rufus opus with sensible surfaces and no cryptic definition overdose. And pleasantly not a rugby reference in sight. My last clue was 24A since my only exposure to opera so … Read more >>
Independent 6557/Math
Across 6 EVA< in STS – “Mrs Peron” made this a very easy clue but “bars” was an ambiguous definition in the phrase “street’s bars”. 9 REC,(PIE)* 10 U,N in NEARED 11 IF … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 350 – Brothers and mothers
This issue brought us the usual fare in the style we come to expect from our optically-challenged friend. Across 7 NEIGHBOURS – (IGNORE BUSH)* I liked “soft” as the anagrind 8 GSOH – … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 922 by Quixote
Reasonably straightforward puzzle, I found. Solving time: 17 mins Will concentrate on a few of what seemed the trickier clues, happy to explain others if asked. ACROSS 24 THE E MP IRE Refers … Read more >>
Azed 1846
Solving time about 35 mins, with Chambers and Bradford’s. Across 1 DOG’S BREAKFAST – “Men generally” = DOGS, rest = BREAK, dissipatedly = FAST (apparently). 10 ISOBRONT (to robins)* – a contour line … Read more >>
Inquisitor 41 – Alterations by Phi
Solving time: about 2 hours At last, a fairly gentle Inquisitor, which I should really have finished off even faster – and earlier! The thematic answers were to have one letter replaced, and … Read more >>
Guardian 24,207 (Sat 13 Oct)/Enigmatist – Double entendre
Solving time: 15 mins, one missing (3dn) Another puzzle with an epic answer, this time 14 words long (perhaps certain compilers at the Guardian are having a bit of a competition?), and beautifully … Read more >>
Independent 6550/Nimrod
Very Nimrod. I’m fairly sure all the answers are right but I have my doubts about 8A and 4D is still a mystery to me. Across 1 CHIMER – which is a type … Read more >>
Guardian 24212/Brendan – hope you like rugby
I suspect that much of England has rugby on its mind even though it’s being played in France (conveniently beaten by the English last week or so). It appears that Brendan does as … Read more >>
FT 12,593/Bradman
Although Bradman is a prolific stalwart of several national dailies, his FT appearances seem to approximate at only monthly in frequency. So the fact that publication also coincides with our sporadic FT blogging … Read more >>
Independent 6555/Phi
I rattled through this puzzle but fell at the final hurdle, well as 24ac and 17dn. Across 5 PAYSLIP — PAYS + LIP — pays is French for country. 9 DOUBLE-BARRELLED — DOUBLE … Read more >>