Guardian 28,224 / Philistine
It’s Philistine to round off the weekday puzzles, in his customary playful and witty style. I found this a fairly straightforward puzzle – not Philistine at his hardest – with a mini-theme … Read more >>
Independent 10,570 / Phi
Phi’s puzzle takes us nicely into the Bank Holiday weekend. I found this to be an enjoyable medium-difficulty puzzle through which I made steady progress. I think that I have parsed everything to … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,567 by WANDERER
A brisk WANDERER challenge this Friday AM. Thanks WANDERER, for the workout. FF: 8 DD: 8 ACROSS 1, 6 JOBS FOR THE BOYS Former IT boss faces current online stink? Yes, if heartlessly … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,566 by ALBERICH
The ever-reliable Alberich is today's FT setter. This was typical Alberich fare – a range of devices, some clever diversions, smooth surfaces and very few superfluous words. I particularly enjoyed the clues for … Read more >>
Independent 10569 / Klingsor
Klingsor is one of the less frequent setters in the Independent daily series. I blogged his last puzzle in June where I see I commented on his penchant for classical musical references … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,223 by Qaos
A quicker solve than usual for a Qaos puzzle… …with a theme that helped me to write in some answers with more confidence – terms for members of the police: PEELER, SWEENEY TODD … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,556 by Mudd
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 15, 2020 I found this a quick solve with 15ac (EROS) my first-in and 17dn (STARLESS) my last. My favourite clue is the delightful 1ac … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,565 by AARDVARK
A traditional style puzzle but not an easy one. Getting to the bottom of the explanations took quite a while.Thank you Aardvark. The grid looks like a pangram, but I haven’t checked. UPDATE: … Read more >>
Guardian 28,222 – Boatman
A timely puzzle from Boatman, which I found rather easier than some of his offerings. The word “time” occurs in over half the clues: often it gives us a T, but sometimes it … Read more >>
Independent 10,568 by Tees
Tees is very much a regular in The Indy nowadays but usually appears on a Monday, so this is a rare meeting. And an enjoyable one. Definitions in fuchsia, underlined. Anagram indicators in … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1660: Caroline by Penumbra
A third puzzle from Penumbra, averaging about one a year. Preamble: All clues contain a word that must be removed before solving. Initial letters of those words, in clue order, give a … Read more >>
Financial Times 16564 Flimsy
Thank you to Flimsy. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Designs small boats (8) SKETCHES : S(abbrev. for “small”) + KETCHES(sailing boats). 5. Presents chests, topless (6) OFFERS : “coffers”(chests/strongboxes) minus … Read more >>
Independent 10,567 by Wiglaf
Wiglaf fills the Tuesday slot this week – we’re on the look-out for a theme …. but we needed a fair bit of electronic help to find it! Because 34ac is, in our … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,221 by Picaroon
Picaroon in his usual good form. As ever with a Picaroon puzzle, this was a witty and fun solve, I had ticks against many clues, including the elegant square in the centre, and … Read more >>
Independent 10,566 by Gila
Quite a tricky puzzle today, but an enjoyable one. I think the trickiness comes mainly from some tenuous definitions (mentioned in the notes below), though the hardest bit was probably the rather indirect … Read more >>