Category: Quick Cryptic

This was an enjoyable puzzle that was solved comfortably inside my target time of 10 minutes, so I think on the easier end of the spectrum. Some lovely surfaces, some very easy clues to help … Read more “Quick cryptic No 653 by Rongo”

Some lovely stuff from Hawthorn (again), with smooth surfaces in abundance and some very neat clues. 9dn is an absolute gem. Personally I found it a mix of some straightforward fare (e.g. 7ac, 15ac, 1dn … Read more “Quick Cryptic 652 by Hawthorn”

Izetti dishes up a clever puzzle today with a couple of twists on ‘usual’ devices which I suspect may be throughly enjoyed by the more seasoned hands but may prove problematic to the less experienced. … Read more “Quick Cryptic 651 by Izetti”

I completed this puzzle in 7 minutes. There are three or four clues that I’d guess may present some difficulties but the majority lead to everyday words and are straightforward in their construction. With those … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 650 by Tracy”

Morning all.  A pleasant offering from Hurley today.  Nothing too obscure in the grid, although BROUHAHA is a word you don’t write down every day. There’s the usual number of “crossword standards” in the cluing … Read more “Quick Cryptic 649 by Hurley”

I enjoyed this – nice devices and lots of good surface readings made it a smooth and satisfying solve. A minute over my target ten with 19d unparsed. Had I not been blogging, I would … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 648 by Corelli”

A nice confidence-boosting crossword today, helped along by several anagrams and a string of double definitions. If you’re a complete beginner and have one or two unsolved clues, I strongly advise you go back to … Read more “Quick Cryptic Number 647 by Mara”

A quicker solve of the long anagram at 1ac would have helped considerably. As it was I took 16 minutes being misdirected by the many clever clues and some padding to others. So, whilst fun, … Read more “Quick Crytpic 646 by Flamande”

A crossword that I found slightly easier than average, which is not unwelcome for a Monday morning. For those with no interest in gardening, 9D may come as an unpleasant sting in the tail – … Read more “Quick Cryptic 645 by Orpheus”

This is a fine Friday QC offering from our esteemed Puzzles editor, an excellent start to the Bank Holiday weekend. Although finished in just under eleven minutes, I found more and more to comment on … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 644 by Hawthorn Friday, 26 August 2016”