The Times Quick Cryptic Crossword Book 1 (The Times Crosswords)

These are fun and fast puzzles, extra fun due to the British nature, as many Americans may be unfamiliar with some of the jargon. (It can be a great learning experience!) I kept this book in the loo and any one puzzle could last me quite a few trips. NB I've worked a lot of this kind of puzzle and also Scottish ones, which are even harder. The ones in this book are not all that hard but still a challenge and many I have not been able to fully solve. All good fun!!!

Believe it or not this book contains 80 British cryptic crossword puzzles with clues accessible to Americans

I mistakenly thought that this would be a book of cryptics along with accompanying explanations of how to solve each so I could eventually learn how to solve them on my own. There was an explanation, but only of the first puzzle, and the description of each clue was brief. Otherwise, it's a reprint of previously published puzzles, like the ad says it would be.

I've become addicted to these brain-teasers. This slim volume was perfect on a recent vacation when I couldn't access my daily "fix" online.

Hurray! At last a Times Cryptic that the puzzles are possible to do!

Lovely.

Too many British references for most American solvers.

Sadly this will be going straight into the dust bin (or trash can, as we Americans like to say). If you are thinking of buying this book, just realize that The Times does NOT mean the NY Times. It took almost a month for the book to cross the pond. The answers are just that: bare answers with no explanation. I found the clues to be too obscure. Even after I looked up the answer, I couldn't figure some of them out. Kudos to those of you who did.

These are a great starting place if you want to learn to solve cryptic crosswords. I bought book one at the start of first lockdown and, as a complete novice, found the puzzle with explanations a useful tool to get going. By the end of book one I was getting the idea and by book three was solving them fairly confidently (though still finding them maddening in parts) and looking for more of a challenge. One very small criticism is that the example with explanations in each book is identical- it would have been simple enough to have a new one in each book. Although I'm now attempting the Times main cryptic I still do one of these per day and I'm feeling a bit sad that I've nearly finished book 6 and have to wait for the new book! Highly recommended as a starting place.

Beau produit

Delivered promptly and well packed. Recommend for bettor than beginners but if new to cryptic there’s a sample puzzle at the beginning with answers explained.

This book has cryptic crosswords which are shorter and easier than those in the regular Times Cryptic Crossword books. It is perfect if you do not have the time to do a regular cryptic; or if, like me, you are not a morning person and are not quite awake enough for the challenge of a regular cryptic. The crosswords still feature all the wordplay and fun of a cryptic. With any luck, the Times will publish the Quick Cryptics every year.

Still trying to master the cryptic crossword, but this book certainly helps.