Author: william_j_s

A fairly difficult puzzle that pushed me comfortably over my target time. I couldn’t see the setter’s name when I solved it (on my phone), and wouldn’t have guessed – it seemed to lack his … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1967 by Izetti”

Not too much to say about this, except I enjoyed solving it. Only the cat and a bit of Latin are somewhat obscure, but they’re very familiar words to regulars here. I stumbled with the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1957 by Marty”

I really enjoyed this. I’m posting early for the benefit of our transatlantic solvers, for whom this crossword may have special relevance. The top half didn’t put up too much resistance (except 11dn – I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1947 by Felix”

This was difficult, but the clueing is scrupulously fair and often very clever. I certainly enjoyed the challenge, but it took longer to complete than any QC of late. Newbies getting stuck, improvers completing the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1937 by Izetti”

LOI and COD to 1ac, which made for a slow start but a satisfying penny-drop moment at the end. I also had a chuckle at 4dn. I wonder if our international friends are familiar with … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1917 by Wurm”

Mid-difficulty for me. The biggest challenges were the two 11-letter answers in the middle of the grid, so much so that I ended up working around them until the very end of the solve. Lots … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1907 by Mara”

A bit of slang I didn’t know (5dn), but this didn’t really hold me up. Otherwise, staple fare finished comfortably within target. After a second look, I thought there might have been something fishy going … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1897 by Joker”

I seemed to be on the wavelength with this one. Not a total write-in, as several clues needed returning to for a second go, but on the gentle end of the spectrum. Definition underlined. Across … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1887 by Mara”

Crack(l)ing puzzle, as we’ve come to expect from this – my favourite – setter. Only the SW corner proved a little reluctant, as well as the long 4dn (cryptic definitions are *still* my Achilles’ heel). … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1877 by Oink”

Lovely. This puzzle seemed effortlessly cryptic, with nothing too obvious or obtuse. I didn’t get 1ac straight away, but did manage 1dn and built from there. Although there were a couple of clues where I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1867 by Hurley”