A reasonably straightforward puzzle to solve: but blogging it proved much more challenging.
Independent on Sunday 1456 Silvanus
A relaxing Sunday puzzle. Thanks to Silvanus. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Sweet smell attracts insect (6) HUMBUG : HUM(to smell unpleasant) plus(attracts) BUG(an insect, in general). Defn: A boiled … Read more >>
Independent crossword 9757 by Hob
Lots of black space in the grid – Maybe something is hiding? Well something was, but not in the obvious place of the perimeter. Kate Bush pointed me towards Wuthering Heights – Emily … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 27,405 by Paul
Lots of clever wordplay to admire in this week’s prize puzzle, but we took issue with a couple of the definitions.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1312: Ranting by Shark
A fairly simple preamble greeted us this week: In RANTING, eight answers must be altered thematically on entry; clues to these answers consist of a definition for the answer, and wordplay leading to … Read more >>
Independent 9,756 / Phi
Phi has provided today’s cruciverbal challenge from his usual Friday home. I found this to be the toughest Phi crossword that I have solved in many a month. I think that I have … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,760 by REDSHANK
An excellent challenge from REDSHANK who brings up yet another delectable Friday offering. A couple of strange words I learnt today but others might have had a faster solving experience given the precise nature of the clues.
Guardian Cryptic 27,410 by Screw
THe puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27410.
Inquisitor Review of 2016-7 – The Results
Continental Drift
Generally speaking, when a new email correspondent writes to say “After years of doing cryptic crosswords, I’m now having a go at compiling them”, experience tells me that this is not a good omen. When this is rapidly followed by the submission of – horror of horrors – a puzzle with three consecutive unchecked letters across the middle of its grid and six unchecked letter pairs elsewhere, I mean, what is an editor to think?
Guardian 27.409 / Paul
There was a strong whiff of déjà vu about solving and blogging this puzzle. It’s just four weeks since I blogged a Paul puzzle on the theme of ‘scorers’ – on that occasion … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,759 by JULIUS
Phew! That was tough….
Independent 9755 / Klingsor
It’s a while since I blogged a Klingsor puzzle I think, so it was good to get one today. Klingsor doesn’t do messages or Ninas very often but he does … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,749 by Redshank
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 6, 2017
Independent 9,754 by Hoskins
Hoskins seems to appear practically every week nowadays and he has certainly had his fill of me, since we frequently coincide. But I haven’t had my fill of him, since he always produces good crosswords where everything is properly explained; as ever, this crossword contains some very good clues.
Definitions underlined and in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Financial Times 15,758 by LOROSO
A super puzzle and not all difficult. Thank you Loroso.