Guardian 24146/Arachne
Solving time – 15:41 This started off very easy and I had most of the top half finished in a couple of minutes, but my momentum slipped away and I eventually ground to … Read more >>
Independent 6489/Nimrod
Fairly easy puzzle from Nimrod, although getting the 3 long down clues early on definitely helped. Across 3 WAS< in WARP,ACT – “pervert”is a verb here, rather than a noun. 8 SCOREBOARD – … Read more >>
Independent 6484 (28-07-07)/Monk – Never Straightforward
Very entertaining puzzle from Monk. Of course, it wouldn’t be Monk with a Nina of some sort and I spotted this one once I solved 17/18/19A – the unchecked letters in the top … Read more >>
Inquisitor 30 Group Dynamics by Quixote
An unintentional train journey led me to buy the Independent on a Saturday and solve most of this puzzle on the way home (London to Durham so not that fast!) Then a forgetful … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 911 by Quixote
Some unusual features in this. Solving time: 30 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 A W(i)RY Thought of ‘awry’ as a possibility from the start, but took much longer to confirm through the … Read more >>
Independent 6488 / Punk No-balls prize!
Solving Time: 23 mins A nice puzzle for a Thursday from Punk. I really liked the big clue at 8/12 several of the other answers. Fairly large smattering of cryptic defs today … Read more >>
Guardian 24145 Auracaria Full sail ahead!
Across 1 ROMULUS founder of Rome, and I otherwise have no idea what the clue means. (Hangs head in shame.) 5 CHAR QUI is a sort of South American dried meat jerky. Char … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,516 by Mudd
Mudd provided what proved to be the hardest, longest-time-to-solve puzzle I have done in a considerable time. There were several clues that I completed only thanks to my dictionary. I like a good … Read more >>
Independent 6487/Dac
This turned out to be a nightmare puzzle for me. I’m too busy at work preparing to take a break and so I didn’t find the space to do this puzzle justice. Some … Read more >>
FT 12,525 / Satori – The Dark Side of the Mole
One of the toughest of setters (be it in his Satori guise or Taupi in the Guardian) and a personal favourite. A battle with Mr Mole is one which always gives a great … Read more >>
Guardian 24,144, Chifonie: Multi-skilling
A pretty straightforward puzzle, by and large, which took me about 15 minutes. The long answer at 1, 26 across was vaguely familiar, but felt a tad obscure – is it a common enough … Read more >>
Independent 6486 by Virgilius – how does he do it?
Another wonderful thematic puzzle from Virgilius. All the across entries are synonyms, as explained in the last down clue (26 down). Solving time: 24 mins * = anagram ACROSS 7 GAMMON Double … Read more >>
FT 12,525/Highlander
An extremely accessible today, to the extent that it could well be the fastest I’ve ever solved a broadsheet puzzle in my life. Anagram fiends should be pleased, as the letter-scrambling comes thick and fast throughout, … Read more >>
Guardian 24143: Paul — multiformity
Some very characteristic Paulian clues today — 26ac, 8d and (especially) 23d are the sort we have learnt to expect from him and no-one else! Across 1 LAID BACK — ‘Dial’ … Read more >>
Independent 6485/Mass
Probably the easiest Mass puzzle I’ve solved (and definitely the easiest I’ve blogged). There were some really good clues in this but, again, I don’t think much of the cryptic definitions and I … Read more >>