Guardian 28,307 / Imogen
I had a mild attack of the collywobbles yesterday when Trailman said, “Must be the turn of Enigmatist tomorrow” – but it turns out to be Imogen offering the challenge this morning. As … Read more >>
Independent 10,653 by Serpent
Serpent tests the old grey matter today. As expected, this was quite a challenge, but a very satisfying one, with the usual great clues, good surfaces and crafty misdirections. We always expect a … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,650 by LEONIDAS
My first Leonidas. I have never come across Leonidas before, so didn't know what to expect. After a slow start, I soon got onto his wavelength and really enjoyed the solve. The setter … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,640 by Mudd
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 21, 2020 A somewhat challenging puzzle from Mudd this time. I worked through most of it with just a little difficulty but got stuck for … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,649 by AARDVARK
A few nicely disguised definitions in here… Thank you Aardvark Looks like a pangram but I haven’t checked. ACROSS 1 MICRONESIA Nomadic Romanies overwhelming outwardly idyllic archipelago (10) anagram (nomadic) of ROMANIES contains … Read more >>
Independent 10,652 / Tees
Tees is occupying the midweek slot with a medium-difficulty and rather topical puzzle. I particularly enjoyed the references to current affairs in this puzzle at 6, 01/17/27 and 8. Incidentally, the expression at … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,306 by Anto
A quick solve with many fun clues and a couple of trickier parsings – I particularly liked 13ac, 21ac, 8dn, 21dn, and 23dn. Thanks to Anto ACROSS 9 IN CAHOOTS Comedian taken … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1674: Getaway by Gila
Definitions in eight clues contain a misprint; correct letters spell a thematic location. Extra letters produced by wordplay in 26 further clues give a thematic quote, made by an individual whose name provides … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,648 by SLEUTH
A very satisfying Tuesday puzzle. Mostly straightforward, but with several head-scratching definitions. I had second thoughts about e.g. 25a and 7d, two which I would probably have mis-solved if I hadn't been blogging. … Read more >>
Guardian 28,305 – Qaos
I was able to solve this very quickly, helped by a lot of straightforward clues and by… …the theme, which I was lucky to spot early on from 8a, confirmed by 14a: it’s … Read more >>
Independent 10651 / Dalibor
It’s over a year since I blogged a Dalibor puzzle, so it’s good to get another opportunity. As I finished the blog, I realised that it was a Tuesday, so … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,098/Hectence
Hectence has given us a lot of bra-stretching this morning. An interesting Quiptic, probably on the hardish side (at least from the parsing point of view), and a pangram to … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,647 by SLORMGORM
Slormgorm kicks off the week. Overall a very enjoyable puzzle. There were a couple of things that held me up: “open up” as an anagram indicator in 3d just about works in this … Read more >>
Independent 10,650 by Bluth
A very challenging puzzle with some great surface definitions. As I'm currently on antibiotics for a severely infected left thumb, I could have done without 1 across, but it was an interesting clue … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,304 by Pan
A slightly tougher start to the week than usual. Having become used to Mondays being a bit easier than the rest of the week, I found this one a bit harder than the … Read more >>