It seems as though it has been a couple of months at least without a puzzle from Phssthpok, so I knew that I was in for a challenge when this popped up.
Guardian Summer Bank Holiday Jumbo 2025/ Maskarade
Blog now fully published
Financial Times 18,149 by SLORMGORM
SLORMGORM kicks off the month…
Independent 12,136/Bluejacket
The Monday offering in the Independent is from Bluejacket. I blogged this setter’s debut puzzle in April of this year, so they are still a little bit of the new kid on the block. Another delightful cryptic today, which I much enjoyed.
Guardian Cryptic No 29,788 by Brendan
A fun solve, with favourites 8ac, 22ac, 24ac, and 4dn. Thanks to Brendan for the puzzle.
Financial Times 18,148 by Rosa Klebb
Puzzle from the Weeked FT of August 30, 2025
Financial Times Sunday 108 – News by Julius
It’s the last Sunday of the month, which means it’s time for the FT’s regular topically themed puzzle, this time brought to us by the ever reliable Julius. Find it to solve online or download and print at ft.com/crossword, or through the FT smartphone app.
Guardian Quiptic 1,345/Alia
A very quick furtle in the 225 archive suggests that this is a new setter for the Quiptic, in which case welcome to Alia and congratulations to him or her on producing a … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,853/Filbert
Filbert in his customary IoS slot, with a delightful and meticulously constructed puzzle. A wide range of subjects on show too, which made it a pleasure to solve and blog.
Everyman 4,114
A slightly unusual Everyman this time round.
Gemelo No. 6 – plain
Gemelo has settled nicely into his slot. I enjoyed this. No major criticisms and good surfaces, everything sound so far as I can see.
Definitions underlined, in crimson. anagram indicators in italics.
Guardian Genius 266 – Claw
The special instructions are slightly mysterious, though with enough information to get us started:
Listener 4880: Listen! by ‘Eck
7Hold on to your seats, this puzzle (by ‘eck) is quite a ride.
Independent 12,135 by Quince
The puzzle is available to solve online or download here.
Hi all. There is a lot of quality on show in this puzzle and I’m struggling to decide what to highlight here. I suppose I could just mention the very first clue
Guardian Quick Cryptic 74 by Dice
This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian, intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here