A straightforward and speedy Tuesday solve.
Guardian 27,754 / Shed
A welcome return for Shed – we haven’t seen him over here since last July but he was in the FT as Dogberry last month, so I hope we’re going to see him … Read more >>
Independent 10100 / Crosophile
Crosophile provides the challenge today Crosophile often provides a theme in his puzzles. Today there seem to be a couple of threads, one based on slang for ‘excellent’ or really … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,006/Pan
A nicely pitched, soundly constructed Quiptic from Pan this morning, I thought. You? Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator … Read more >>
Independent 10,099 by Wire
I think this is my first encounter with Wire, and it took me a while to get into the right mindset – but once I got started, everything seemed to be straightforward. Definitely … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,753 by Chifonie
All good fun, with a few trickier elements at the end, including my favourites 4dn and 7dn. Thanks to Chifonie.
Financial Times 16,100 by JASON
A fine start to the week from JASON…
AZED 2,436 ‘Billets-doux’
Azed temporarily turned into Baudelaire to create a love poem in rhyming couplets as a late Valentine’s Day present to solvers. I am not going to comment on the literary worth of his … Read more >>
Everyman 3,775
The Observer crossword from Feb 17, 2019
Not a crossword that could be finished during my Sunday brunch, I’m afraid. But – hurrah – I did finish it (without making any mistakes)! And, did I like it?
Independent on Sunday 1,513/Kairos
Always a smile from me when Kairos crops up on my IoS watch. One or two bits of post-solve investigative work required, which led me down some interesting paths. Abbreviations … Read more >>
Independent 10,098 by Nimrod
The puzzle can be found here. Happy Saturday, everyone. We have a Nimrod puzzle today, and you know what that means — and if you didn’t, you do now! Many thanks, Nimrod! As I … Read more >>
Guardian 27,746 / Puck
I haven’t solved a Puck puzzle in a while, so this was a pleasant reminder of why I like this setter: Puck’s crosswords are always witty and fun to solve. There’s a couple … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1369 Things by Shark
Two clues comprising two definitions each, but otherwise ordinary. Apart from 2 unclued entries – the across one of which has something to do with the double definition clues. No indication as to … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,098 by NEO
Unusual to see NEO featured on a Friday but definitely welcome nevertheless. On the easier side of his offerings, with only a couple of parsings holding me up from a quick finish. Thanks, NEO!
Guardian Cryptic 27,751 by Philistine
A pretty quick solve, especially with the longer answers going in early. Parsing was a bit more tricky, and I’m still stuck on 16dn. Favourites were 9ac, 20/13, 26/27, and 17dn. Thanks to Philistine.