Financial Times 12,721 (Adamant)
Across 1 DEMOCRATIC: DEMOCRAT (like Hillary Clinton) + IC (in charge) 9 OPAL: OP (work) + A L (a beginner) 10 FENESTRATE: anagram of ERNEST in FATE 11 STATUS: S US (South America) … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,711 by Mudd
Here is Mudd in fine form. I found 16D difficult and still do not quite see how “go” is clued. Across 1. HARMLESS – ARM (weapon) + L (left) in HESS (Nazi). Great … Read more >>
Guardian 24340/Araucaria
As ever a few liberties taken here and there by Araucaria but on the whole a fair puzzle. Across 1 PSALMS S in PALM+S the Sunday before Easter is Palm … Read more >>
Guardian 24,339 Taupi – Varmint
This is a place-holder as I haven’t yet given this excellent puzzle the time it deserves ACROSS 1 PLEA(SURE)T-RIP 8 U-(c)RANIUM 9 ? 11 NET-B-ALL 12 ? 13 DIRGE = (E.G RID) < … Read more >>
Independent 6683/Phi
An entertaining puzzle from that nice man we usually see on Fridays. Across 1 INSE[-t],CURE 5 M[i]CE,WAN – the last one I filled in and the toughest clue of the puzzle I thought. … Read more >>
Financial Times 12719 / Neo
I took longer than two previous Tuesday puzzles that I have blogged on. Less than 45 minutes. First entry was 5ac. The upper half was completed first. The most difficult quadrant was bottom right. … Read more >>
Independent 6682 (Tees)
* = anag, < = reversed, () = dropped A slightly easier puzzle from Tees compared to some recent entries, although I have no idea who the person in 24 across was. Across … Read more >>
Guardian 24338/Rufus – what a scream!
The serial number is probably a misprint online. Anyway, a rather good Rufus I thought – an &lit here and there, a couple of reasonable cryptic definitions. Overall a pleasant accompaniment to my … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 360 – Surface intention
The surface readings of clues in the Eye crossword have become famous for conjuring up delightfully rude and disrespectful images, and of course funny as a result. This crossword did not disappoint. It … Read more >>
Guardian 24,331 (Sat 8 Mar)/Araucaria – Quight X-rated
Solving time: 18:05 Lots of difficult words in this puzzle, though that’s understandable as alphabetical jigsaws must be tough to construct. I struggled on the right-hand side and was surprised to discover that … Read more >>
Azed 1867
An enjoyable crossword romp taking in a nice mix of the obscure, the ordinary and the Latin. There are a couple of answers I’m not certain about and one clue, 35, that seems … Read more >>
Inquisitor 62/Choices by Nutmeg
I had so solve this puzzle immediately after solving another Nutmeg puzzle so I was hoping for a very different theme. The preamble suggested choices in solving clues and in entering answers. At … Read more >>
Independent 6675 by Nestor
I’d the privilege of meeting Nestor briefly at the Listener setters’ dinner on the day this puzzle appeared. I told him I’d struggled with it on the train, but I think he assured … Read more >>
Last Saturday’s Independent Prize Puzzle
Around about this time each week I usually post a blog about the Saturday prize puzzle in the Independent. However, as I spent most of the weekend preparing to move house and then … Read more >>
Independent 6680/Phi
A very nice puzzle with a mini-theme based on 28a. Eminently solvable, even for occasional wine drinkers like myself. Across 9 IN THE SOUP – “noodle” can mean a simpleton or blockhead, someone … Read more >>