Hello, everyone. I am here today as a substitute for a substitute. Olivia Rhinebeck was originally scheduled to stand in for Chris, but she had to ask me to step in at the last minute.
Author: vinyl1
Mephisto 3244 – The last days of The Don
Yes, this puzzle will be among the last by this setter, and George and I will have to cope with two new setters in the coming year. I greatly enjoy the clarity and simplicity of Don Manley’s Mephistos, and this one was no exception.
Update: Two Quick Cryptic Bloggers Have Been Chosen
Thanks to all who applied.
Times 28439 – Some blog announcements, followed by a blog
As is typical for a Friday, this was a bit devious, but my real problem was that I just didn’t know the Italian football team and the UK-centric expression, but I still managed to finish using the skills I have honed in solving Mephistos.
Times 28435 – I did the wrong puzzle!
Well, started to do the wrong puzzle, anyway. I printed off the correct puzzle, but failed to clip it to my clipboard, and sat down for a Sunday evening solving session.
Mephisto 3242 – Tall tails
While there were some typical Mephisto clues here, quite a few of them were deceptively simple. Whenever the solver was expecting something complex, the setter offered something ridiculously simple.
Times 28423 – Back in cryptic kindergarten
This was a rather simple Monday puzzle which quickly yielded up its secrets. The SNITCH is at 63, and that’s just about right.
Mephisto 3240 – Dearly bought
This one was definitely on the tougher side, and I was please to be able to finish after considerable struggle. I did biff quite a few, and the pun was very helpful.
Times Cryptic 28411 – What the pup pays?
Well, another easy Monday. Getting the four long ones quickly was really very helpful, but even the interior of the grid was relatively straightforward.
Mephisto 3238 – Closed-book exam time!
Whenever I set up to solve a Mephisto, I naturally have my copy of Chambers at hand. Normally, I look through all the clues and answer all the obvious ones (well, obvious for Mephisto) before I get serious and start checking in the dictionary for possibly relevant words, either for the wordplay and the answer.