Toughie No 594 by Elgar
A Lie Down in a Darkened Room Needed
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from the Calder Valley. Today we have a quick reappearance by Elgar with a cracking puzzle that as usual raises smiles and makes you think not just outside the box, but outside the fork-lift truck used to lift it. The perimeter answers are all linked and forming phrases and there’s an arty feel to the puzzle.
I’ve tried to explain 5 down but it has me totally confused. There are one or two other tiny quibbles as well, but overall a superlative solve with much to admire.
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Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2595
A full review by Gnomethang
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Afternoon All!. We have another eccellent puzzle from Virgilius this week. I couldn’t see any theme in particular here but let me know if you have spotted anything. No real problems here apart from almost everyone writing TRACTOR in at 6d.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26599
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
We have a not-too-difficult offering from Giovanni today (although the instrument in 12a was new to me). Let us know how you got on with it.
If you’re a regular reader of the blog who has never left a comment, now would be a good time to introduce yourself – we’re a friendly lot and promise not to bite!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26594
A full review by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
A lovely Saturday puzzle from 23a this week, proving once again that a cryptic can be fairly straightforward to solve without detracting in any way from the level of enjoyment it gives the solver. Thanks Cephas for the Saturday morning entertainment – I bet 23a was your clue of the day too. My favourites are highlighted in blue.
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Toughie No 593 by Petitjean
Hints and tips by Bufo
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
A good challenge from Petitjean today which includes several bits of popular culture. This suits me because I’m much happier with popular culture than with obscure classical composers and the like that I’ve never heard of.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26598
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Lucky me! Not only do I have two puzzles from Ray T this week but I also get to review both. This one is definitely at the easier end of the scale, but still great fun.
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Toughie No 592 by Elkamere
There’s a new kid on the block
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
We have a new compiler today and the Telegraph are so coy about him or her that they haven’t published the name on-line this morning. So, welcome to Elkamere who’s given us a puzzle that pretty much conforms to midweek Toughie standard in terms of difficulty (I found the SW corner the trickiest) with an entertaining mixture of clues.
Let us know how you liked the new setter and please take the time to click on one of the stars below to record your enjoyment.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26597
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Hello once again from the Vega Baja. We have a tricky little rascal today (to borrow pommette’s phrase) which has a theme, a bit unusual for a Wednesday puzzle so perhaps this one isn’t from Jay. I nearly gave it 4* for difficulty but then realised I’d spent a good portion of my solving time trying to fit a nine letter word into 24a before noticing the enumeration is (4,5) – D’oh!!!!! Continue reading “DT 26597”
Toughie No 591 by Beam
A tale of crooks and child molesters!
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
After sailing through three-quarters of this puzzle, I found myself stuck in the southwest corner, until several pennies dropped one after the other. Beam never ceases to challenge and amuse me at the same time. My runaway favourite clue is 27 across.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26596
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Perhaps we’re going to get a “North American” week because, after yesterday’s Independence Day theme, today’s puzzle has a distinctly American flavour. It didn’t take me too long to solve and I wasn’t too impressed at first, but I did warm to it more when writing the review. What did you think?
If you want to reveal an answer drag your cursor through the space between the brackets under the clue.
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