Financial Times 16,562 by Redshank
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 22, 2020 I solved this puzzle very quickly and easily while noting that a substantial number of clues were strangely familiar. It was only after … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,571 by GOZO
Another enjoyable themed puzzle from Gozo, but not one requiring specialist knowledge. Thank you Gozo. The theme is names – B stands for Boy and G stands for Girl ACROSS 1 GRAHAM B … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,228 by Puck
Puck at his mischievous best. After a first run through, I had two solutions across and two of the long down solutions, so I thought I was in for a hard slog, but … Read more >>
Independent 10574 / Eccles
Eccles and I seem to meet regularly on a Wednesday. I am perfectly happy with that. As usual, Eccles treats us to some excellent surfaces which generate answers that make … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1661: Line Drawing by Extent
eXtent returns this week. I blogged the last puzzle from this setter back in January. That puzzle also featured some blanks in the grid during the solving process. The preamble … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,570, by DOGBERRY.
A fun Tuesday solve with some ingenious clueing for which thanks to Dogberry. For some reason, my software won't let me enter 10 Down, so SPOILER ALERT, I'll parse it here… 10 Endlessly … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,227 by Paul
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28227. Paul doe it yet again: a creative and entertaining concoction, even if he sails a little too close to the wind for my comfort in one … Read more >>
Independent 10,573 by Knut
I haven’t blogged a Knut for some time, maybe for too much time. There were several anagrams in the clues, which made it less demanding than I remember things being in the past. … Read more >>
Quiptic 1,085 by Carpathian
An excellent Quiptic as always by Carpathian. This puzzle is full of surfaces that immediately conjure up a mental image, which of course is there to mislead the solver: “police got a criminal” … Read more >>
Guardian 28,226 / Pan
It’s Pan to help cheer up a rather chilly Bank Holiday, with a puzzle with a bit more bite to it than the Monday usual. (That isn’t a criticism.) I really enjoyed this … Read more >>
Independent 10,572/Bluth
It’s Bank Holiday Monday, it’s not beach weather, and if you’re not quarantined and do venture out you’ll have to understand/obey/lose patience with the Covid rules and regulations. An indoor diversion, therefore, in … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,569 by VELIA
A (mostly) gentle start to the week from VELIA… This all went quite swimmingly, with all the long clues round the edges going in early on. Nothing to complain about (though I dare … Read more >>
Everyman 3,854/23 August
Another sound puzzle from Everyman, with – as should be the case – nothing to frighten the horses. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1592 Hoskins
Thank you to Hoskins. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 6. Take Scottish leader’s temperature for doc (7) SURGEON : “T”(symbol for “temperature” in physics) deleted from(Take) “Sturgeon”(Nicola, First Minister of Scotland). … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,515 ‘Cherchez la Femme’
Special instruction here, but the puzzle is not very far removed from a standard cryptic. Thank you Azed. As is often the case with Azed specials the instructions are long and detailed but … Read more >>