Author: Verlaine

A suitable Friday-level challenge where, to judge by the club leaderboard after 8 hours, coming in under the 10 minute mark is going to be tricky for all but the real power solvers (I certainly … Read more “Times 26,723: Slow Down, Whale Crossing”

A puzzle that should go down well with our Stateside constituents, I reckon, with at least 3 answers to be found on the American map rather than Surrey for a change, and a food item … Read more “Times 26,717: Oh Say Can You See”

I’m standing in for pipkirby today so I’ll keep things short and sweet. I did this funny and ingenious puzzle on paper, in 9 minutes and 18 seconds according to stopwatch, so by no means … Read more “Times 26,709: Taking Down Particulars”

Coming straight from a TLS puzzle as I did, I was clearly in the right headspace for this crossword: I instantly knew Sairey Gamp’s signature item and likewise all the classical militaria was well known … Read more “Times 26,705: Turtle Recall”

I’d had a solid tip-off about the identity of today’s setter, and was delighted as they’re one of my very favourites, but I also knew what I was in for: incredibly careful, devious cluing that … Read more “Times 26,699: Alternative Facts”

I first started to suspect that this week had it in to me on Wednesday: biting down onto a pecan in a “butternut squash bocadito” at one of the insufferable hipster cafes that are everywhere … Read more “TImes 26,693: Double Trouble”

This was a truly wonderful puzzle that I ripped through with great enjoyment in seven and a half minutes dead, only to find my experience soured by having ended 4dn with HH instead of the … Read more “Times 26,687: That’s When I Reach For My Winchester”

A beautifully set puzzle here, absolute cryptic economy combined with terrific surfaces across the board. I was really impressed by the synergy between wordplay and definition parts in multiple places – 14ac, 21ac, 2dn, 3dn, … Read more “TImes 26,681: Pink Eye In The Morning, Solvers Take Warning”

To begin with a semi-important announcement: keriothe and I are planning to have a crosswordy meetup on April 12th, probably at that old stalwart the George Inn near London Bridge. It is after all almost … Read more “Times 26,675: Down And Out In Puzzles And London”