The Times Big Book of Cryptic Crosswords Book 1

Ideal for passing away a few hours during this colder weather. Bit harder than expected, but, good brain teaser

This is a really good cryptic crossword book. Have I completed one yet - no, lol. But I feel so happy when I finally work out one of the clues, like solving a connection on Only Connect.Sometimes, you can't work out any of the clues and then the next time you have a go you can solve five or six clues with no problems. I think it's a case of getting onto the same wavelength as the setter. Thank goodness the answers are in the back so you can double-check that you're going in the right direction.

I waited as long as I could for The Times book 21 (which has just appeared and which I've just ordered). However, I so needed my cryptic crossword "fix" that I ordered this book last month. It has already kept me happily busy and I will keep it "in reserve" when I'm between Times crossword books. I've been doing these puzzles for more than 40 years-- not bad for a Yank! They say crosswords and other puzzles will help stave off Alzheimer's, so these books are good for my health (despite the frequent head-scratching).

Wouldn't be for everyone. Having always done the Radio Times cryptic for years and finding it moderately challenging at times, this is in a completely different league , much harder. That said, thanks to the solutions at the back, I have upped my game and am now more proficient than I was and enjoy the mental challenge as I've worked out and understood the answers.

Some of the clues can be a little bit tenuous (occasionally baffling), but generally solvable with a bit of time and effort (and a good dictionary and thesaurus). Often infuriating but unfailingly addictive!

Incredibly fiendish but very enjoyable (if you can avoid throwing it against the wall in frustration). This is definitely only suitable for experience cryptic crossworders - very high level of difficulty but highly recommended for that level of skill. Good value for the number and size of puzzles

These crosswords are very cryptic, which is OK because the clue is in the title, but also quite esoteric.I've completed 40 now, but managed only one of them without looking up any answers. I averaged about 4 "cheats" for each puzzle.If I give you a few of the words I couldn't get, you'll probably see what I mean: PREBEND, POILU, HORUS, VIDELECT, ELECTRESS, IXION, EMULATION (meaning rivalry), PANEGYRIC, LAMBDA, BASSO, SAMITE, SLYPE, LOKI, GRANADILLA, SUMACH, SCUT, RATAFIA, KINGLET, OPPIDAN (is that even a word? It isn't in my dictionary.)Maybe these are words you use all the time and I'm just ignorant. In which case you'll sail through. Good luck!

is a crossword book not easy but i will get used to it