Financial Times 16,553 by GOZO
An interesting themed puzzle, which I think will be accessible to most. Thank you Gozo. The theme is motor vehicle manufacture, makes and models. In real life Gozo is a bus enthusiast and … Read more >>
Guardian 28,210 / Pasquale
Pasquale provides today’s midweek challenge. As usual, we have a wide range of subject-matter – geography, politics, philosophy, theology, history, science, with a couple of popular musicians for good measure. Again, … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1658: More Than One Problem by Ifor
Ifor is a frequent setter, this is his 31st puzzle and his third this year. None of them is easy! Each down clue contains a letter that must travel up or down within … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,209 by Brummie
Thanks to Brummie for a fun puzzle – tricky in parts and with a slightly unhelpful grid… …but the fairly obvious chemistry theme made this a quick solve overall. Favourites were 15ac, 25ac, … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,552 by GURNEY
A satisfying Tuesday puzzle with some head-scratching parses and a couple of smiles, Done and dusted in two-and-a-half passes but none the less enjoyable for that. Thanks to Gurney. ACROSS 1 SOMERSAULT In … Read more >>
Independent 10555 / Wire
Wire provides the challenge today There were a lot of secret agent references in the clues and entries with all of the following words or names included somewhere in the … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,082/Hectence
Hectence is a long-serving Quiptic setter and always produces a puzzle that I want to recommend to beginners. I’m sure some of our newer solvers and contributors will have enjoyed (and, I daresay, … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,551 by ZAMORCA
A very enjoyable pangram from Zamorca this morning. I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle – lots of witty surfaces and misdirections that kept me on my toes. 2D might be tricky for non-Brits (or … Read more >>
Independent 10,554/Tees
Did you know that (TEES AND PIERRE)* is EARNED RESPITE? For those of you who are wishing you had earned respite from the combo, I am sorry to disappoint. It’s nothing untoward – … Read more >>
Guardian 28,208 – Vulcan
A very Monday-ish puzzle from Vulcan today; though light on the cryptic definitions, unusually. A quick but pleasant solve: thanks to Vulcan. Across 1. BESIDE THE POINT Behind … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops / 682) Healthcare Buffoon
Medium difficulty for the Eye. About half in at the first pass and the other half filled-in without too much difficulty. So this is a great crossword to recommend to anyone starting out … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,589/Silvanus
A pleasing puzzle in the usual IoS style, where I was troubled only by one or two remote synonyms. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition … Read more >>
Everyman 3,851
The Observer crossword from Aug 2, 2020. A typical well-written and enjoyable Everyman crossword to accompany my Sunday brunch. I did have to check a few things, especially in the right-hand side of … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,512 Plain – Competition Puzzle
Another helping of interesting words and carefully constructed clues. Thank you Azed. I will be away on a short cycling tour over the weekend. If you have any corrections/questions then leave a comment … Read more >>
Independent 10,553 by Phi
We now have Phi-day on a Saturday. All very confusing this week but as we also blogged the Hob yesterday we realised that something different was happening this week. We spotted PHILIP in … Read more >>