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 don’t know if it was just me being obtuse but I had a very slow start and only solved two clues on the first run through.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
This was an enjoyable puzzle with some nice touches and I completed it without any real difficulty.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I thought this was another worthwhile solve. There weren’t too many giveaways but I managed to maintain steady progress until the end (although I took some time to work out 1 across).… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***/****
On learning yesterday that I was to get a Shamus puzzle today I checked through the archives because I couldn’t remember how I usually fare with them.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I think I struggled with this more than perhaps I should have done and it took me an above-average time.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
A big hello to you all from London, where a merry (in more ways than one) group* of crossword setters and solvers has amassed.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Hello friends! Thanks to Toro who has done a splendid job of launching the Toughie week but who has decided to scale back his blogging commitments. … Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***/****
It wasn’t my morning. First I had to get the breakdown people along to remove the car to a garage in order that the problem of our not being able to change gear could be fixed.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
I was surprised how quickly I finished this one.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
I normally enjoy a Shamus Toughie but I was slightly disappointed by this one.… Continue reading