I usually find Mike Laws to be the most difficult of the Mephisto setters, but the shape of this grid made it a bit easier. Mike set himself no small task with a 13×11 grid … Read more “Mephisto 2551 – Mike Laws”
Author: glh
Times 24279: Don’t 1D 2 without a 16
Solving time : I did this in breaks during a rehearsal so didn’t get a time. It was a very slow start, particularly on the acrosses (I need to start using my Mephisto tactic and … Read more “Times 24279: Don’t 1D 2 without a 16”
Times 24267 – can you 29 28 to be a 17?
Solving time : I worked on this during breaks in a rehearsal so didn’t really get a chance to note down a time, but I found it a pretty steady solve with a few falling … Read more “Times 24267 – can you 29 28 to be a 17?”
Mephisto 2547 – Paul McKenna
I thought this was going to be on the easy side for a Mephisto with almost two-thirds of the grid going in before having to open a dictionary. But then came a few really tricky … Read more “Mephisto 2547 – Paul McKenna”
Times 24255: going round in circles twice
Solving time : 23 minutes, which is on the slow side for me, I’m not sure if this is a difficult crossword or just one of those days where I’m not on the same wavelength … Read more “Times 24255: going round in circles twice”
Times 24243 – sad songs say so coronach
Solving time : 17 minutes, so for me the hardest of the week, and it looks like one with a few deliberately thorny and trappy answers, including one device (21 down) that I’ve seen a … Read more “Times 24243 – sad songs say so coronach”
Mephisto 2543 – Tim Moorey
I found this the most challenging of the Mephistos of the last month or two – and it was all in the wordplay, there are some seldom-seen letter indicators and anagrindicators. I talked myself into … Read more “Mephisto 2543 – Tim Moorey”
May. 20th, 2009
Solving time : Did not record – couldn’t get enough time in one sitting to get this finished, but I hope it was a difficult one anyway – there is one answer that I am … Read more “May. 20th, 2009”
Times 24219: stage or screen?
Solving time : 12 minutes, so I expect there’ll be a few blinders. There seemed to be a lot of answers in this one to do with the performing arts, as there are in the … Read more “Times 24219: stage or screen?”
Mephisto 2539 – Mike Laws
I have one of two solving patterns for the Mephisto. If I’m awake and feel like being lazy on Sunday morning, I grab the dictionaries and try to do it in one sitting. However on … Read more “Mephisto 2539 – Mike Laws”