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 >>
Guardian Prize 28,291 by Brendan
A topical thematic puzzle from Brendan this week. It was obvious from the clues that there was going to be a political theme, and it soon became apparent that it referred to the … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,639 by BRADMAN
A tough challenge from BRADMAN this Friday. Thanks Don, for the workout. Also, thanks to Geoff for helping me get across the line.FF: 9 DD: 9 ACROSS 9 EPIDERMIC In widespread disease there’s … Read more >>
Independent 10,642 / Phi
In familiar fashion, Phi brings this week’s suite of mid-week puzzles to a close. I found this crossword harder than a standard Phi, in part due to the grid and that fact that … Read more >>