Typical Cyclopsean fare, book-ended by two references to ‘members’, neither of which are MPs…but also two uncharacteristic setting/editing slips, at 1A and 20D?
Everyman 3,849
Yet another puzzle in Everyman’s distinctive style. The standard Everyman features are all here: a related pair of long entries (when I got the solution to 11a, I had a pretty good idea … Read more >>
Azed 2510
A slightly differently shaped Azed grid this week with 11 rows and 13 columns There were few Scottish references in the puzzle although TRON got a look-in at the wordplay … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,587 by Shabbo
An entertaining little tussle. Thank you Shabbo. The clues are straightforward, but nevertheless I found quite a few of them difficult. I attempted this puzzle after a good dinner and several glasses of … Read more >>
Independent 10,541 by Klingsor
This kept me contented for the best part of an hour. In the end I had to look up the Czech river – I have never heard of this one, but I won’t … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1443: Girl Sang Hymn by Piccadilly
Just like London buses, you wait ages for a Piccadilly to blog (EV 949 in 2011, EV 1291 in 2017), and then three come along in quick succession (EV 1419 in February this year, EV 1431 in May and now EV 1443). Where is this particular bus taking us?…
Guardian Prize 28,189 by Puck
An inventive and entertaining puzzle. Thank you Puck. Having spotted Toulouse Lautrec as my first one in I was expecting an easy ride with write-ins of famous paintings. Then I discovered how may … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,537 by MUDD
A thorough workout from Mudd today. Thanks Mudd. FF: 9 DD:8 ACROSS 1 SLIGHT Small lesion initially visible? (6) L (Lesion, initially) in SIGHT (read together as being visible) 4 CLOSET Private company … Read more >>
Guardian 28,194 / Picaroon
It’s Picaroon rounding off the weekday puzzles, following Nutmeg with another lovely offering. (I shan’t be surprised if crypticsue calls me ‘Lucky Eileen’ again.) The answers went in steadily, with half a dozen … Read more >>
Independent 10540 / Phi
Phi returns to his regular Friday slot this week. I don’t think there is a theme to the puzzle, but there is added symmetry formed by the unchecked cells in … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,536 by REDSHANK
Redshank serves this morning’s cruciverbal breakfast in the FT I rattled through this puzzle until I came to the SE corner, where I hit a brick wall. Eventually FARO and DOLLOP revealed themselves, … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,193 by Nutmeg
A fun puzzle and some really lovely clues – my favourites were 1ac, 12ac, 21ac, 24ac, 5dn, 7dn, and especially 3dn. Thanks to Nutmeg ACROSS 1 BROAD HINT Meaningful nudge from flamboyant … Read more >>
Independent 10,539 by Serpent
My impression (perhaps I’m wrong, because I haven’t done a proper survey [as James says, Phi and Tees appear about twice as often]) is that Serpent appears more often than any of the … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,526 by Goliath
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 11, 2020 I sailed through this puzzle with only 1ac and 4,10 giving me a little difficulty. And I wonder if it could be a … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,535 by AARDVARK
An enjoyable puzzle as always from Aardvark. Thank you. It looks like there is at least one pangram in here, anybody fancy the job of counting the letters? I had a quadruple pagram … Read more >>