Independent 6531 by Phi
Solving time: 29 mins I spotted a theme, I think, mentioned under the relevant clues. < = reversed * = anagram ACROSS 1 DUN MOW FLIT CH This is the theme, … Read more >>
Independent 6526/Nimrod
Quite a few long answers in this which made it a fairly quick solve. Naturally, there are a couple of answers which I don’t really understand: 13 and 15A. Oh, and 16D. Across … Read more >>
Inquisitor 37 – Late hit boxer by Schadenfreude
Solving time: ages – at least 6 hours This puzzle had 44 clues in total, 17 with misprints, and 16 to be treated somehow. That leaves 11 normal clues with no treatment. I’m … Read more >>
Independent 6530/Nimrod
A mixed bag for me today. A couple of non-dictionary phrases for a start, an answer I simply can’t get and some word play that I just don’t follow. There were some clever … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 918 by Quixote
I found this puzzle on the easy side. Solving time: 14 mins Will concentrate on a small number of what seemed to me the trickier clues, but happy to explain others if asked. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,187/Paul – Poetic Licence?
A typical fun crossword from Paul – an enjoyable challenge as he doesn’t allow the rules to get in the way of a good clue. Time taken – 14mins, approximately ACROSS 1 see 19dn … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,558 by Cincinnus
For the second week in a row, I completed the FT Weekend puzzle very quickly. In this week’s case, it helped that all the words are common — or at least ones I … Read more >>
FT 12,567 by Monk
Having a little extra time today, and seeing it was Monk, tackled this. Very hard and very inventive as I’ve learned to expect. And there is a theme, referred to after the clue … Read more >>
Independent 6529 by Dac
Some easy clues and some very tricky clues in the usual excellent offering from Dac. Solving time: 22 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 WHO OPS I remember these two … Read more >>
Guardian 24186/Araucaria definitely today!
Solving time approx 30 minutes. I didn’t see any answers on my first glance through the clues, but managed to work out the anagram at 27ac and worked upwards steadily from there. As … Read more >>
FT 12,566/Highlander
I didn’t spot anything unduly devious today so, coupled with the fact that the answers are all basic vocab, most clues are pretty self-evident. The only possible gripe would be that the wordplay/definitions … Read more >>
Azed 1841 – rare Azed slips?
(this version added Weds 19 Sep, 8:20 p.m. – the first two comments relate to the corrected clue to 23D printed with no. 1842) Solving time: roughly 90 mins from memory This puzzle includes two mistakes, … Read more >>
Independent 6528/Virgilius
A typically good Virgilius puzzle with a few tough clues. I made one significant error early on which left me flummoxed over the last two entries. Across 7 TICKET COLLECTOR — double def. … Read more >>
Guardian 24185/Araucaria – out of character
Another out of character Araucarian opus – not cross-refs, not long anagrams and actually quite a pleasant puzzle with reasonable surfaces. Across 1 FR(EE)BIE – [w]EE[k] in brief* 5 CAT’S-PAW – had to … Read more >>
Independent 6527/Merlin – Wizard!
Superb puzzle but tricky in places and a reminder that Monday is not always easy-day in the Independent. There’s a lot to admire in this but I thought that 1A,10A,20A and 4D were … Read more >>