A Puzzle by Osmanthus
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.
A review of this puzzle will be added tomorrow (Tuesday).
Welcome to Rookie Corner Osmanthus but I am reasonably certain that this is not your first puzzle.
An enjoyable finish to my weekend of cruciverbalism with smiles for 13a, 17a, 19a, 27a, 15d, and 22d.
I am not sure of the parsing of a few of the clues but I will leave that to the experts.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
Lots to enjoy in this competently put together puzzle. Our favourite is 17d.
Thanks Osmanthus.
Welcome to Rookie Corner, Osmanthus. This was an accomplished debut although surely not your first ever cryptic crossword. Parts of it were quite challenging and I really enjoyed the solve.
Apart from the spelling error in 23d, my comments are mostly personal preferences:
10a – I don’t like “screen” as a synonym for phone. Is this now current jargon?
17a – I never know if and when “of” is OK as a link word between definition and wordplay. Prolixic will doubtless advise on this.
25a – I assume this is a cryptic definition. For me, it is a bit clunky.
26a – I am not keen on “nose” as a first letter indicator. Another one for Prolixic.
9d – “Crossword” looks like surface padding to me.
24d – I’m not keen on “dithering” as an anagram indicator (but I have seen a lot worse!)
I had a lot of ticks with 17d my favourite.
Many thanks and well done, Osmanthus. I look forward to your next offering. Thanks too in advance to Prolixic.
Welcome to Osmanthus who’s given us a really enjoyable puzzle (much more entertaining than today’s back-pager in my opinion).
I particularly liked 5a, 19a, 21a, 23a, 27a, 15d and 17d.
More like this would be very welcome.
Welcome Osmanthus
My thoughts agree with those of Gazza