The first blog in the Fifteensquared database was published on 1st November 2006 when neildubya blogged Guardian 23910, followed the next day by nmsindy explaining Independent 6254.
Independent on Sunday 1,743 by Shabbo
Shabbo returns for the first time since December last year and first time for me to blog.
Everyman 4,004
Everyman has done all the right things here so far as I can see. Nice surfaces, sound clues, and all within the restrictions of the rhyming pair, the self-referential clue and the first letters clue. When history is written I suspect this Everyman will bear comparison with some of the greats of the past.
Definitions underlined, in crimson. Indicators (hidden, anagram, homophone, reversal etc.) in italics. Anagrams indicated like (this)* or *(this). Link-words in green.
Azed 2665
A mid-month puzzle from Azed is usually a plain puzzle, as this one is. I got off to a good start, possibly because there were quite a few ‘everyday’ entries, but … Read more >>
Independent 11,475 by Bluebird
The puzzle is available here.
Private Eye ( Cyclops / 757 ) Redacted Normality
I had trouble trying to choose a title for this blog. There are so many adjectives in the answers compared to the number of nouns, and many of those adjectives lend themselves to … Read more >>
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 29,123 by Arachne (15 July 2023)
A first appearance from Arachne in quite a while, and a poignant preamble: ‘In memory of 5 (25 10), 1948-2023‘.
Financial Times 17,469 by Zamorca
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 15, 2023
Independent 11474 / Phi
Phi is in his usual Independent slot this Friday This seems to be a gimmick- and theme-free crossword with a good mix of reasonably well-known words and phrases. For me, … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,474 by BUCCANEER
A witty challenge from BUCCANEER this Friday AM.
Guardian Cryptic 29,128 by Picaroon
A tough and enjoyable solve – lots of likes, including 13ac, 15ac, 24ac, 3dn, 5dn, and 21dn. Thanks to Picaroon for the puzzle.
Independent 11,473 by Twin
Twin provides today’s exercise in lateral thinking.
Guardian 29,127 – Boatman
We haven’t seen Boatman for a while, and this was a tricky one, with some quite involved constructions. Thanks to Boatman. Across 9 THIEF Boatman taken by the force as a criminal … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,473 by GAFF
Gaff is today's setter.
Enigmatic Variations No.1598 – Action-packed by Eclogue
“Answers to five clues consisting of wordplay only are thematically connected to their entries. The wordplay part of every other clue includes an additional letter which must be removed prior to solving (always leaving real words). In clue order, these letters provide a refrain (with one variant spelling) of the reporters of this ACTION-PACKED sequence of events, who must also be completed (sharing a single letter). Numbers in brackets relate to entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”