Category: Mephisto

A puzzle that was as easy as the previous week’s had been difficult. It came the day after a very tough Saturday Prize Crossword that took me longer to complete! One point of interest is … Read more “Mephisto 2545 Mike Laws”

I thought this a difficult puzzle with nearly every clue requiring some access to Chambers. Indeed, most of the starter clues are simple constructions that lead to answers that have to be verified by dictionary … Read more “Mephisto 2544 Paul McKenna”

I found this the most challenging of the Mephistos of the last month or two – and it was all in the wordplay, there are some seldom-seen letter indicators and anagrindicators. I talked myself into … Read more “Mephisto 2543 – Tim Moorey”

For the second time in three puzzles this one, like 2540, is a fairly gentle Mephisto which new Mephisto solvers should find approachable. Solving time: about 20 minutes, with one dictionary look-up but also one … Read more “Mephisto 2542 – calling Mephisto Virgins …”

After last week’s puzzle that hardly required one to consult Chambers this one is rather harder and needed a reference for most of the clues. This is not my favourite grid because of all those … Read more “Mephisto 2541 Paul McKenna”

This is a very easy puzzle that can be 90% solved without recourse to Chambers (C). Across 1 OFFS – OFF-S; OFF=officer; S=special; ices; 4 DITTY,BAG – DITTY-B-AG; B=book; AG=silver; salt=sailor; a sailor’s kit bag; … Read more “Mephisto 2540 Tim Moorey”

I have one of two solving patterns for the Mephisto. If I’m awake and feel like being lazy on Sunday morning, I grab the dictionaries and try to do it in one sitting. However on … Read more “Mephisto 2539 – Mike Laws”

Solving time: not recorded but pretty slow – maybe 2-2½ hours. As you can gather I found this very tough. One reason was missing what should have been a very straightforward anagram at 34A, another … Read more “Mephisto 2538 – Paul McKenna”

An excellent puzzle of reasonable difficulty with some very good clues. I thought both KWAKIUTL and PSITTACINE top class whilst HELLIERS is outstanding. The clever use of “fulham” appealed to me and demonstrates the need … Read more “Mephisto 2537 Tim Moorey”

The puzzle contains a mini-theme. It is puzzle number 25-36. 25 is the square of 5; 36 is the square of 6; 1A=numbers; 15A contains “five”; 25A contains “six” 33A=squared. I didn’t realise this until … Read more “Mephisto 2536 Mike Laws”