Financial Times 16,643 by IO
A tough one from Io, but no surprise there! Thank you Io. I always enjoy Io puzzles, but having to blog one add the extra dimension of facing public embarrassment if I fail … Read more >>
Guardian 28,300 / Nutmeg
It took a while to get into this but then things began to fall into place, making for an interesting and enjoyable solve. As always with Nutmeg, there are some very clever clues, … Read more >>
Independent 10646 / Eccles
Eccles makes his regular fortnightly appearance today One of the features of Eccles crosswords is the smoothness of the surface of his clues and the misdirection generated by some of … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1673: Jacks by Radler
According to fifteensquared stats, Radler has been producing one Inquisitor puzzle once a year since 2013, usually towards the end of the year. Here is the 2020 offering. The preamble … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,299 by Brummie
A slow solve, with a few unfamiliar solutions. Favourites were 18ac, 27ac, 6dn, 7dn, and 25dn. Thanks to Brummie …there is a theme: COLD/PLAY, RADIO/HEAD, The POLICE, The ROLLING STONES, TRAFFIC, BLUR, PULP, … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,642 by GURNEY
Decent Tuesday fare with some pleasing surfaces. A speed-solve this morning. All above board and accurately clued and with some very 'readable' clues. Thanks to Gurney. ACROSS 1 GULF STATES Significant difference, says … Read more >>
Independent 10,645 by Hob
That was a workout. Really hard work at times, and with 34 clues, some of which were uncomfortably long and took ages to parse, the whole thing took me a good while. But … Read more >>
Quiptic 1,097 by Carpathian
Thanks to Carpathian for an enjoyable Quiptic as ever: not always easy, but always fair. Some of the definitions took a bit of thought, but that’s part of the fun; everything makes sense … Read more >>
Guardian 28,298 – Vulcan
A very quick solve for me today, even by Monday standards. A few weak spots in the clues, but in general soundly constructed, so this would be a good puzzle for beginners. Thanks … Read more >>
Independent 10,644/Vigo
A pleasing puzzle from Vigo this morning in the ‘doesn’t have to be hard to be enjoyable’ category. Brava. The only other thing to add before I hand over to you is … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,641 by ZAMORCA
A ZAMORCA to start off the week. Good mix of clues here. Some great surfaces too. I especially liked 17d and 14a (though that is possibly because I made some over the weekend). … Read more >>
Everyman 3,866/15 November
I think we need to give credit to Everyman – and I don’t at all mean this in a ‘faint praise’ way – for producing a tractable but entertaining puzzle week in and … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1604 Tees
Thank you to Tees. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Direction of take-off in this plane! (8) VERTICAL : Cryptic defn: Reference to a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft/plane which … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,527 Plain
My weekly fix of interesting words and phrases. Thank you Azed. ACROSS 1 MUSS Millions start of revolution purged from Russia in conflict once (4) M (millions) then Revolution (first letter, start of) … Read more >>
Independent 10,643 by Monk
Where does the time go when you are not busy? Once again we have a Saturday puzzle to blog – it only seems a few weeks ago when we blogged the last one. … Read more >>