An absorbing puzzle with lots of nice clues.
Guardian Cryptic 27,676 by Vulcan
Not my type of puzzle, but a gentle start to the week.
Private Eye (Cyclops/638) Offshore sinner
Because the Eye crossword allows us the luxury of over a week to solve it I often wait till the mood takes me. This time I felt like solving it straight away … … Read more >>
Azed 2423 – Eightsome Reels
Eightsome Reels is a special invented by Azed that he generally brings out about every couple of years. They can be a bit hard to get started on, as you need to do … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1500 Loglady
Thanks to Loglady for a puzzle as challenging as any weekday Independent. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Odd features of chakra coach (3) CAR : 1st, 3rd and 5th letters … Read more >>
Everyman 3762/18 November
Another accessible, well-constructed puzzle from Everyman. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions are underlined Across … Read more >>
Independent 10,021 by Klingsor (Saturday Puzzle 24 November 2018)
I signed off my last Indy Saturday blog (Klingsor’s Munster-ous 9991) with ‘…see you in the 10,000s…’ and, lo and behold, here he is again on my next shift, five weeks later… …making … Read more >>
Guardian Prize puzzle No 27,669 by Philistine
An end letter alphabetical jigsaw this week, which presented problems, not just for solvers but also for your blogger.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1356: One Fine Day by Charismatix
A relatively straightforward preamble this week (and my last). In the completed grid, the contents of the coloured cells can be arranged into six words from which solvers must deduce the unclued ONE … Read more >>
Independent 10,020 / Phi
Phi’s latest submission brings our mid-week suite of puzzles to an end. I enjoyed this crossword and found it to be a medium-difficulty puzzle by Phi standards. True to form, I have been … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27674 Crucible
This was perhaps a little easier that the Crucibles I’ve encountered before. Thanks to Crucible. Definitions are underlined in the clues. There seems to be a geological theme, in line with the setter’s … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,023 by WANDERER
Thanks WANDERER, for a fiendish puzzle , that was deceptively difficult in parts, parsing much more so than solving! Several clever surfaces made this that much more fun.
Financial Times 16,022 by NEO
Neo provides this morning’s mental exercise in the FT.
Independent 10019 / Serpent
Serpent continues to present an entertaining challenge The last Serpent puzzle I blogged (9995) had HIDDEN AGENDA in the central row and central column. Today we had HIDDEN DEPTHS What … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,673 by Picaroon
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27673.