Cranium-Crushing Crosswords
by Frank Longo

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Book Reviews of Cranium-Crushing Crosswords

Book Review: IMHO, book of the year!
Summary: 5 Stars

There appears to be no apparent major progression of difficulty. None were MOAHs (Mothers of All Habaneros) by the Cru's (NYT Crossword Forum people) standards.

Trip Payne said this was the very best puzzle book he has ever worked. I would very much have to agree with him, but would add the adjective "challenging" to book. Probably the most entertaining books were Merl Reagle's books.

All in all I would say that these puzzles are all in the difficulty level of the upper third of Saturday NYT's.

But that is not the big thing about this book.

The BIG thing is the phenomenal cluing the likes of which I have rarely seen. EVERY puzzle chock full of mind bending misleads and jolts of the cerebral electrodes. But you do not get mad because every puzzle is doable, and after you look at the finished grid you say, "HEY, I know all these common words and phrases." But when you look at the clue list BEFORE solving the puzzle you go into instant puzzle-shock and say "DUH!".

If you appreciate Barry Haldiman's Cru habaneros as regular NYT Crossword Forum Tuesday fare, you MUST buy this book. Period!

Popeye

Summary of Cranium-Crushing Crosswords

Crosswords Books

• Books > Subjects > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games