Puzzle from the Weekend FT of April 13, 2024
Guardian Prize 29,356 / Qaos
I’m always glad to see Qaos’ name on a puzzle – and it’s been a while since we had one of his. The nagging issue, when blogging, is that there’s always a theme … Read more >>
Cyclops 776 – Right-wing Jester
Cyclops is on tip-top form this fortnight, with some great surface reads and relatively topical material (given the constraints of setting lead times and a fortnightly publication, and a little Truss-ian serendipity)…
Financial Times 17,712 JULIUS
A solid challenge from Julius this Friday.
Independent 11,708 by Phi
Phiday fun from our regular setter.
Guardian 29,361 / Harpo
Harpo rounds off the week’s puzzles with an enjoyable challenge. I found this quite tough going but very satisfying to (almost) finish, with some splendid anagrams, ingenious and meticulous cluing and witty surfaces … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1637 QUESTION by STICK INSECT
Misprints in every clue spelling out three characters – which form the subject of a question in a work that must be removed from the final grid. Right on my wavelength this one … Read more >>
Independent 11,707 by Rodriguez
If flashing hadn’t stood in for us in March, we would have blogged three Rodriguez puzzles in a row.
Guardian Cryptic 29,360 by Paul
A slow solve until the longer solutions started going in. My favourites were 22ac, 3dn, and 19/12/9.
Financial Times 17,711 STEERPIKE
Steerpike provides this morning's puzzling entertainment…
Independent 11,706 / Eccles
As he often does, Eccles is filling the Wednesday slot this week. I found this to be towards the harder end of the Indy spectrum, perhaps in no small measure due to the … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,710 by BASILISK
Excellent puzzle from Basilisk.
Guardian 29,359 – Tramp
I found this rather gentler than some recent puzzles from this setter, but still good fun. Thanks to Tramp. Across 1 WISHFUL THINKING Is fling with hunk at work having unrealistic desires? … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1850: Blast Off by Serpent
Boom. The puzzle commemorates an event from 1970. (i) Wordplay in 22 clues generates an extra letter that is not entered in the grid. These letters, in clue order, provide a name and … Read more >>
Independent 11705 / Deri
Deri is an Independent setter with only one previous crossword I can find on fifteensquared. That was in January when the puzzle had a Led Zeppelin theme. I have computing problems this week … Read more >>