nick_the_novice – Page 15 – Times for The Times

Quick Cryptic No 392 by Tracy

nick_the_novice9th September 2015 at 9:29 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

A puzzle at the easier end of the QC spectrum, I thought, but with a few clues that needed a bit of unravelling (e.g. 1ac). No obscurities, assuming you are familiar with the poet featured … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 392 by Tracy”

Sunday Times 4657 by Tim Moorey

nick_the_novice6th September 2015 at 9:18 AM10 September 2025Weekend Cryptic

Overall I found this a reasonably straightforward puzzle, laced with a handful of standout clues. Thought 19ac was excellent, 26ac was a very nice cryptic clue and 17ac a pleasingly groanworthy pun. 1ac was pleasantly … Read more “Sunday Times 4657 by Tim Moorey”

Quick Cryptic No 382 by Mara

nick_the_novice26th August 2015 at 9:22 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

I found this one a bit of a game of two halves. First quick run through the Across clues yielded a dispiriting three answers, but then a similar quick run through the Downs got almost … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 382 by Mara”

Sunday Times 4655 by Jeff Pearce

nick_the_novice23rd August 2015 at 9:40 AM10 September 2025Weekend Cryptic

Quite a tricky offering, I thought. 27a was unknown to me, although the wordplay and cross checkers made it accessible (unless, like me, you had mysteriously slammed in Post at 23d!) Plenty of fun and … Read more “Sunday Times 4655 by Jeff Pearce”

Quick Cryptic 372 by Des

nick_the_novice12th August 2015 at 9:15 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

Overall I found this a relatively straightforward offering, but with a few that had me scratching the head for a while. Some very nice clues – particularly liked 20 ac, 22ac, 2dn and 21 dn. … Read more “Quick Cryptic 372 by Des”

Sunday Times 4653 by Dean Mayer – which art verily a ripper!

nick_the_novice9th August 2015 at 9:03 AM10 September 2025Weekend Cryptic

Unravelling this little beauty was huge fun, and (at least for me) very challenging. I managed to get several runs on the board pretty quickly, giving me delusions that I was batting on a flat … Read more “Sunday Times 4653 by Dean Mayer – which art verily a ripper!”

Quick Cryptic 362 by Orpheus

nick_the_novice29th July 2015 at 9:13 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

Thanks to Orpheus for an enjoyable puzzle which I thought was towards the easier end of the spectrum, whilst still posing a few knotty problems to unravel. One (at least for me) obscure bit of … Read more “Quick Cryptic 362 by Orpheus”

Sunday Times 4651 by Tim Moorey – Ed’s Swansong In Crosswordland?

nick_the_novice26th July 2015 at 9:15 AM10 September 2025Weekend Cryptic

Some very fast times recorded on the leaderboard for this one, indicating it was at the easier end of the spectrum. I found it a bit of a mixed bag, with some straightforward stuff and … Read more “Sunday Times 4651 by Tim Moorey – Ed’s Swansong In Crosswordland?”

Quick Cryptic No. 352 by Flamande

nick_the_novice15th July 2015 at 5:45 PM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

Maybe because my brain is in holiday mode at the moment, I found this one quite tricky in parts. No obvious reason why – all good, very fair clueing and no obscurities (other than possibly … Read more “Quick Cryptic No. 352 by Flamande”

Sunday Times 4649 by Jeff Pearce

nick_the_novice12th July 2015 at 1:00 AM10 September 2025Weekend Cryptic

Solved sitting in a bar overlooking Honfleur harbour during the French leg of our holiday, and very pleasant too. A fairly straightforward offering, but after a racing start I got bogged down for a time … Read more “Sunday Times 4649 by Jeff Pearce”