Category: Quick Cryptic

I think I have blogged a Des puzzle only once before, in the New Year of 2017, when I found his style entertaining and accommodating.  I have no time for you today, as several serious … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1493 by Des”

Introduction Would have finished just under 6 minutes, which is exceptionally quick for me. But I took an extra 70 seconds to figure out 20 Across, which I only got by trawling the alphabet for … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1492 by Teazel”

Still in my run of 12 minute solves so either I’m getting slower or the QCs have upped their game a bit. There seemed to be a lot of positional clues throughout this crossword and … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1491 by Joker”

At 6 minutes this was equal to my fastest regular solving time as achieved on 30 previous occasions. I’ve beaten it only twice over the years, coming in at 5 minutes. For the record, I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1490 by Orpheus”

“Well, this is a lovely entertaining QC”, I thought as I worked through this puzzle from Mara. I am reminded that my son has his driving test next week by the amount of reversing involved. … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1489 by Mara – Shedding a tear for the deer”

On more of an even keel today after a bit of a struggle with yesterday’s: I was four minutes over my target with that one and came in two minutes under today, so it wasn’t … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1488 by Izetti”

Not easy for me, resorting to the downs to get anywhere, and ending up with my worst time in a while. I thought that all four long answers were difficult to get, despite seeing how … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1487 by Pedro”

11 minutes needed here to complete an interesting QC full of great surfaces. In addition to familiar QC fare, there are a few twists in the parsing which would have made Agatha Christie happy. I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1486 by Wurm”

Another easy Monday puzzle. I think the FOI was 1A, and LOI was 5D, but once again, as with the last one I blogged, not because that was the most diffcult clue but just because … Read more “QC 1485 by Joker”

Perhaps a bit chewier than recent offerings, but with a fair share of write-ins. LOI 1 dn, which I did not know. Across 1 Support friend grabbing editor to issue retractions? (4-5) BACK-PEDAL – BACK … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1484 by Rodney”