This one was a bit of a step-up from the easier Mephistos we’ve been seeing lately – John Grimshaw has provided a tougher challenge, with a number of cleverly-set traps for the unwary solver. I noted them on my copy as I solved, meaning that I wasn’t fooled.
Author: vinyl1
Times 28867 – A mob of judges?
Well, the streak of easy Monday puzzles continues. I only had to think a little, as most of the answers wrote themselves in, especially after a few checking letters were available.
Mephisto 3314 – Earful swordplay!
I didn’t have much difficulty solving this one, and I finished in my Saturday night session – although I nearly hit Sunday. Getting the answers was only part of it, though, as I had to do a bit of research in order to be able to blog the wordplay.
Times 28855 – Follow the cryptic!
This puzzle was unusually tricky for a Monday, particularly in terms of general knowledge. If you had heard of all the answers, you might do very well, but otherwise you’re in trouble.
Mephisto 3312 – Blackbirds and Thrushes
I didn’t find this one terribly hard, and made good progress for a while. I eventually got stuck and went to bed. Returning the next day, I got a few more.
Times 28843 – Hamlet as Ninja Turtle!
This puzzle was rather an odd duck. There are some good clues, but some of the clues, and some of the answers, are a bit on the strange side. But here at TfTT, we solve ’em all.
Mephisto 3310 – You and me and the porter’s daughters
I didn’t find this one particularly difficult – there are a lot of common words in the answers, even thought some of the clues are a bit obscure. As I recall, I knocked it off in one sitting, taking about 80 minutes.
Times 28831 – What’s it all about…..
I found this puzzle…..interesting. I had a hard time getting started, and I ended up biffing most of the answers. I suspect inexperienced solvers would find it very difficult, lacking both the general knowledge and the tricks of the veterans.
Mephisto 3308 – Now that I’d like to see
I solved this pretty easily – two of the long ones around the edge were pretty easy to crack, giving me lots of beginning letters.
Times 28819 – The best-laid schemes….
Here’s a perfectly simple Monday puzzle for your enjoyment. Yes, there were some things I didn’t see as I solved, or didn’t know, but that didn’t stop me from writing in the correct answers.