Category: Weekend Cryptic

Once again the Saturday puzzle was soothingly straightforward by comparison with the day before. 

Certainly one of the easiest Dean puzzles I’ve worked, but no less entertaining for that, and flawlessly executed.

Another soothing Saturday, nicely to my taste.

11:06. A delightful puzzle from Robert this week.

There were more than the usual number of cryptic definitions in this one. I loved the reference to Louis XIV.

Starting with the longer answers first, I filled in most of this rapidly… until the last handful, which took almost as long as all the rest!

I found this harder than the run of Saturdays recently. Not much that experienced solvers won’t have met before, but you’ll need to have thought about it! Thanks, setter. How did you all do? Note … Read more “Times Cryptic 29430 – Sat, 3 Jan 2026. New year, new test”

41:15. I started this puzzle on the 28th, decided I was too exhausted to tackle it, and saved it until the next day when I was feeling a little more rested and had plenty of … Read more “Sunday Times 5196 by Dean Mayer”

I found this a par Saturday crossword, very suitable for the holiday season. The musical theme at 3ac is a delight!

An entertaining exercise, as always, where tightly packed clues explode in the mind with a flash of light.