Category: Daily Cryptic

Solving time 9:46 I made steady progress with this one until I had 5, 24 and 3 left to deal with. At 24 I’d missed the old ‘de-creased’ trick – nearly as old as distressed … Read more “23961”

Solving time : 15 minutes. Very similar to last Tuesday’s: straightforward without ever being insultingly easy. I’d imagine the sort of puzzle that is good for newer solvers without surrendering too easily to older hands. … Read more “Times 23,960”

Found this a bit of a struggle. Did in fits and spurts throughout the day, so no time to report. Came across the same stumbling blocks as most of the commenters below. Across 1 CO(M(MISS)ARIA)T … Read more “Monday 7 July Times Crossword”

About 45 minutes to solve this one. I quite enjoyed it but when I came to write it up it occurred to me that much of it is rather unsatisfying and there is very little to … Read more “Times 23957”

Solving time : 15 minutes The setter seems to have damage on the mind – you can kill yourself with 4D, face madame 11A, or just after a 5D get 19A until a 16D. 1A … Read more “Times 23956 – pick your poison”

Solving time 7:12 Like some commenters yesterday, I thought we could be in for a tough puzzle today. This one has a few tricky corners but shouldn’t keep you too long. I finished the NW … Read more “23955 – Peter and Don meet the police”

Solving time : 8 minutes, and nothing to make me think this is going to detain most solvers for anything approaching their usual time. Some odd things which might be obscure in the real world, … Read more “Times 23,954 – A sinecure indeed…”

Solving time: between 45 and 55 mins I reckon – did in bed and didn’t time myself. One of my favourite puzzles for some time – just the kind I really enjoy. Lots of excellent … Read more “23953 – Tricky!”

Solving time – 11:38  This should have been about 3 minutes quicker but I dithered over 26 and 23. Good puzzle though, with some very good clues. I’ll go for 1a as my COD.  Across … Read more “23951”

23,950 Solving time: 26 mins with 2 undone I came to the end of my commute without solving 6D or 10A, and I don’t think I would have got them any time soon after that. … Read more “23950”