A very enjoyable puzzle, and not too tricky.
Guardian Cryptic 29,252 by Picaroon
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29252.
Inquisitor 1832: Phases by Phi
Phi drops in with an early offering for Sankt Nikolaustag. Preamble: Entries are real words, with some being the result of modifying clue answers (numbers in brackets reflect the space available in … Read more >>
Independent 11,597 by Twin
Twin fills the Tuesday slot.
Guardian 29,251 / Jack
A fairly tricky but enjoyable and rewarding challenge, meticulously clued, with excellent surfaces, from Jack. There are lots of super clues – I started ticking my favourites but had to give up, as … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,598 by Moo
scchua, the regular blogger is unavailable today, so I am standing in. I don’t venture into Financial Times territory very often, so this is my first encounter with the setter MOO … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,597 by BOBCAT
BOBCAT starts the week off…
Guardian Cryptic 29,250 by Brummie
Thanks to Brummie for the puzzle – my favourites were 21ac, 2dn, 12dn, 14dn, and 20dn.
Guardian Quiptic 1,256/Chandler
A pleasing and tractable Quiptic from Chandler. This might have been a ‘first puzzle I solved unaided’ experience for someone, somewhere this morning. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as … Read more >>
Independent 11,596/Angel
A puzzle from an infrequent setter for the Indy, which I enjoyed solving and blogging. Her (at least I think it’s her) previous offerings have included themes, but I couldn’t see one here. … Read more >>
Financial Times Sunday No.24 – World by Peto
Another dose of geographically themed cryptic fun. Available on the FT website to download and print or solve online, or via the smartphone app.
Azed No. 2,685 Plain- Competition Puzzle
I was relieved that this was just a ‘plain’ Azed crossword, because his specials often take ages. In the event it was one of his easier ones I thought. All made sense and I felt as if everything was parsed OK. You may have different opinions. It seemed there were quite a lot of anagrams: I counted ten clues in which there were whole or part anagrams. Some of the definitions are a bit dense, but will be there in Chambers.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Anagram indicators shown like (this)* or *(this).
Everyman 4,024
As always seems to be the case this is well-constructed and there are no criticisms really. The usual things are there — the first letters clue, the rhyming pair, the self-reference. My moan at 6dn about the fact that it’s a CD is a voice crying in the wilderness: lots of people, including some good setters, like them.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (anagram, homophone, juxtaposition, hidden, etc) in italics. Anagram indicators shown like *(this) or (this)*, link-words in green.
Independent on Sunday 1,763 by Lark
Sunday and we’re up with the Lark
Independent 11,595 by Dutch
The puzzle is available here.