Category: Weekend Cryptic

What a change from the previous week! The consensus on that puzzle was, too many obscurities, too little fun. I was very in tune with Phil J’s view of what makes a good puzzle: Why … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28080 – Saturday, 11 September 2021. The fun of the familiar!”

This was a three-ring circus of delights, even including elephants. But seriously, folks, elephants are gradually achieving liberation from their long servitude to the spectacle. Perhaps we can still manage to save these magnificent creatures, … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4971, by Robert Price — cheeky as ever”

This puzzle was rich in general knowledge unknowns, at least for me, including: an order of monks, a flowering plant, an obscure foreign language, both the handle and the peak at 6dn, and more. I … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28074 – Saturday, 4 September 2021. Mini Mysteries.”

24:28. I found this really tough, and absolutely brilliant. Going back over the clues to write the blog none of it seems desperately hard, but I was thoroughly fooled by some of the misdirection. Great … Read more “Sunday Times 4970 by Dean Mayer”

I’m delighted to tell you that the first book of ST cryptic crosswords since 2006 was published on Thursday – cover price £6.99. Not long after starting at the Sunday Times, I asked Harper Collins … Read more “The Sunday Times Cryptic Crossword Book 1”

There were some very clever definitions here; 13ac was my favourite! Is the definition in 18ac really doing double duty as part of the wordplay? If so, we should declare an amnesty since the clue … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28068 – Saturday, 28 August 2021. Make no mistake!”

I didn’t work this in one go. Finished sometime Sunday (yesterday [last week]). It was striking that “man” or “men” was used in a few (clues or answers) and every time in a different sense … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4969 by David McLean — A man’s a man for a’ that”

I didn’t know the answer for 11ac, so I had to appeal to Sylvester the cat for guidance. Nor did I know the place at 4dn, but the duck at 6ac rang a faint bell … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28062 – Saturday, 21 August 2021. Sufferin’ succotash!”

14:41. Another excellent puzzle from Robert, with a few tricky bits and pieces but nothing overly taxing. There are several clues in here that require you to remove either of a pair of the same … Read more “Sunday Times 4968 by Robert Price”

Some tricky feints and lunges here to keep you on your toes. The two longest clues are CDs, and as usual they kept me guessing longer than most, especially 9. But my most protracted engagement … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4967 by Dean Mayer — En garde !”