i Cryptic Crossword 3420 Peter

Difficulty rating (out of five): 🌟🌟

After the tribulations of last week, in which we were treated to a concentration of very challenging crosswords and, moreover, were affronted with the confounding of our expectations of accessible puzzles on Mondays and Wednesdays, it was reassuring to have a pleasantly gentle start to the week. That’s if there’s anyone left solving after such a week as that. 🙂

This enjoyable and satisfying puzzle was just right for a Monday. There are no obscure words, with the possible exceptions of the crossing PIED and SKIPJACK, both of which provoked a quick check in the dictionary. Only one clue caused me some head-scratching, which was INDICES, my last one in. Once the crossing letters were in the entry was clear, and I got the word-play. It was the definition which bemused me.

My Clue of the Day goes to 14ac, which was pleasing in the simplicity of its construction, and which offers an excellent surface reading: “Writer drinks fruit smoothie at last (11)”.

Here’s the link for the answers and explanations: http://www.fifteensquared.net/2017/10/22/independent-on-sunday-1443-by-peter/