Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Shamus is Philip Marlow [The fictional character Philip Marlowe, created by Raymond Chandler, lived in Shamus Town, a loosely disguised Los Angeles]. He sets puzzles as Hypnos in the Independent and Sleuth in the Financial Times. He also sets some of the questions on “Only Connect”
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I’m fairly neutral about this one. It was a competent enough puzzle and the clues were perfectly fair. But there was nothing about it that got me excited.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Not for the first time I find myself reviewing a Shamus puzzle two days in a row. As Toughies go this is not one of the hardest and I enjoyed solving it a lot though I found the right-hand side quite a bit easier than the left.
Let us know what you thought in a comment, and please remember to grade the puzzle by clicking on one of the stars at the bottom.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
For the second week running I get a pleasant, non-controversial puzzle. This pangrammatic puzzle is very good. There was nothing I needed to check in the dictionary and I could understand all the wordplay without difficulty. I’m beginning to look forward to my next “stinker” when I’ll be able to have a good moan.
Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
As well as producing a fine Toughie today, Shamus has incorporated in a Nina (hidden message) a greeting to BD and the rest of us. So, of course, that earns it five stars for enjoyment (I just hope that 1d, 2d isn’t meant to be a second hidden message!). If you haven’t found the Nina yet there’s an explanation of how to find it at the bottom of the review.
Let us know in a comment what you think of the puzzle, and whether you found the Nina!
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Not for the first time Shamus gives us a Toughie on the day after his Daily Cryptic. This was pretty much a middle-of-the-road Toughie for me – not too easy, not too difficult, with some nice clues, but overall nothing to get too excited about. What do you think? Leave us a comment!
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
A very enjoyable puzzle from Shamus to start this week’s Toughies. Knowledge of real British and fictional Danish Royalty will come in handy today, along with a smattering of Geography and History.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Today we have sporting references in the clues and the answers. This Toughie is about on a par with a fairly difficult daily cryptic.
Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Really, really sorry but an unexpected trip to A&E caused me a huge amount of chaos. Everything is OK now, but it has meant that I missed posting deadlines quite badly, so sincere apologies. – T
A nice puzzle to end the week from one of my favourite setters. Good solid clues that do exactly as they say on the tin with 1 across quite a clever clue that may need a bit of explaining, as well as a couple of new words on me. 13 across has baffled me a bit. A number of the clues are of the “whole thing defines it, and the clue is made up of the indications” type and are nicely constructed.
Hope to see some of you at Parsons Green.
As usual, feel free to have your say after the review.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
If you found today’s daily cryptic a little too easy, then have a go at this one! Difficult but fair, and very enjoyable. Shamus at his best? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.
Tilsit is still unwell, but hopes to be back soon.
You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
For the second day in a row I’m doing a review of a Shamus puzzle. In his review of the Cryptic today Big Dave reckons that this one is easier than the Cryptic; I have to disagree – whereas the Cryptic is quite tricky, I found this one was a degree harder with my Chambers in constant use. I did enjoy it – it felt like a trip around the world with references to south sea islands, French dramatists, Italian painters, Icelandic sagas and American presidents – and we still have time to call in at Mecca and East Africa. I’ll be interested in your comments!