---
product_id: 186108754
title: "102 Cryptic Crosswords (Mensa)"
brand: "fraser simpson"
price: "R$1215"
currency: BRL
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 23
category: "Books"
url: https://www.desertcart.com.br/products/186108754-102-cryptic-crosswords-mensa
store_origin: BR
region: Brazil
---

# 102 Cryptic Crosswords (Mensa)

**Brand:** fraser simpson
**Price:** R$1215
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** 102 Cryptic Crosswords (Mensa) by fraser simpson
- **How much does it cost?** R$1215 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.br](https://www.desertcart.com.br/products/186108754-102-cryptic-crosswords-mensa)

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- fraser simpson enthusiasts

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## Description

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Barred cryptic crosswords. Easy to medium skill. Clues rather stilted. Not easily portable.
  

*by F***Y on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 July 2011*

SUMMARY102 crosswords in 8x12 grids, barred format, easy to medium difficulty, conventional cryptic clues, Canadian flavoured. The Introduction explains the main and most (but not all) clue types with examples. The Solutions give explanations too. Not easily portable (see Amazon's quoted dimensions) but the spiral binder makes it easy to fold the book in half.Headings below are PERSONAL SUMMARY, FORMAT AND LAYOUTSKILL LEVEL/MENSA ENDORSEMENT OR LACK OF/CANADIAN FLAVOUR, INTRODUCTION/CLUE TYPES, SOLUTIONS.PERSONAL SUMMARYEnjoyed in part, especially doing barred cryptic crosswords as barred crosswords are usually synonym, but overall found the book unsatisfying due to:(1) the surface readings are often stilted and contrived (clues are all contrived but in good ones it shouldn't be noticeable); most weren't that fun to read, nor did they conjure up the wide range of mundane and bizarre encountered in life and fiction that mark the best cryptic clues (e.g. The Daily Mail's New Cryptic Crosswords Book 11)(2) the slight Canadian flavour which was new to me(3) the shortness of the clues, which eventually gets boring(4) the slightly restricted range of clue types(5) the small grid size (barred format is usually 12x12) - no sooner started than finished(6) took half the book to get used to the setter's way of thinking(7) I like to do crosswords in bed, in an armchair or take as a travel companion, so I didn't like the book's above-average size; had to lay it on a table; liked the spiral binderFORMAT AND LAYOUTNot the standard British cryptic crossword format, but the type called 'variety' or 'advanced' i.e. a 'barred grid' with no black squares, thick lines to mark the end of an answer, and smaller than the standard 15x15 symmetrical grid. 12x12 grids for 'advanced' are usual but this book's 102 crosswords are smaller at 8x12. These grids are the plain barred type though cryptic not synonym, i.e. no themes or twists common to them all.The cover picture is fun artistic licence. Actually the puzzle grids have no black squares, and the puzzles are oblongs not 'freeform' or 'shaped' (the picture shows freeform or shaped so the mountaineering couple can climb steps).Each page side has two puzzles with a bit of "thinking"/blank space beneath. Clues are short compared to those in leading newspapers; I'm used to a variety of short, medium and long clues - a minor point but noticeable across a whole book.The book's physical size means it's not easily portable, and not easy to use crosswords in bed or an armchair or a train seat (favourite places for many solvers). The spiral binder makes it easy to fold the book in half.SKILL LEVEL / MENSA ENDORSEMENT OR LACK OF / CANADIAN FLAVOURFor experienced solvers I'd say the level is easy to medium (I class crossword magazines as easy, The Daily Mail as medium, The Telegraph as medium to hard, The Week as hard). My copy arrived without the front cover's green sticker MENSA endorsement (seen on the Amazon page picture when I bought), which seems to be the only connection with MENSA. A MENSA sticker would make me think the puzzles are difficult but luckily they aren't as challenging as the MENSA hype suggests so beginners should enjoy them too especially with help from the book's Introduction (see below). The more you do the easier they get, as you get used to the way the setter thinks.The barred format makes solving easier as there are far more checked squares i.e. as clues are solved, the more letters are put into the grid to help solve other clues. (The white squares where letters are entered are known as lights. A checked square is a light which forms part of two answers. An unchecked square is a light that forms part of only one answer.) Whereas the standard British format, due to the lattice structure's pattern of black squares or blocks, there can be only a limited number of checks, at most every other.The compiler Fraser Simpson is a Canadian so this affected my clue-solving as the puzzles have a Canadian and USA flavour (the book's published also in the USA). As I'm used to British English and British crosswords I found this unsettling, and I'd have liked at least a few good references to British culture and current affairs such as occur in British puzzles. As Simpson is a new compiler to me, it took half the book to get used to the cut of his strait jacket's jib (all crossword compilers live in padded cells - they have brilliant but devious minds and doubtless wear unnerving mischievous grins). Sometimes I had to look at the answers, something I don't do with British puzzles (which is why some need revisiting or I can't finish them).INTRODUCTION / CLUE TYPESThe cryptic clues follow conventional rules (i.e. Ximenean principles). The book opens with a two-page Introduction to cryptic crossword clues with certain types explained with examples including typical indicators: anagram, hidden word, reversal (not to be confused with palindromes which are not mentioned and which are indicated by "both ways" or similar; I mention this as there's at least one palindrome clue in the book), homophone, two meanings (aka double definition aka composite), deletion (aka subtraction), container, charade, surprises (meaning odds or evens), bits and pieces (meaning single or group letters with possible indicators), &lit, and explains that clues often comprise a combination. Initialisms aren't mentioned, nor truly cryptic clues (usually indicated by ? or !). Certain conventional clue types (too many to mention, but minor next to those above) used in, say, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Times and even monthly/quarterly crossword magazines, don't seem to appear in this book - this slightly limits things for a solver coming from those publications. However, crossword help books can be bought which detail clue types with examples; Ximenes and his guidelines can be looked up online.There are two practice puzzles. Unlike the real grids, they are 7x7 British format i.e. with 180 degree rotational symmetry in a lattice structure of black and white squares.The Solutions also help hone solving skills (see below).SOLUTIONSThese are all at the end of the book, not in puzzle numerical order. Grids are shown completed, with text answers and explanations.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    102 Cryptic Crosswords (Official Mensa Puzzle  Book)
  

*by S***H on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2014*

The purchase of this book represents  the triumph of hope over reality. I am completely unable to make sense of the clues.Clearly I will have to donate this book to a friend

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    crossword book
  

*by I***L on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2013*

this is the second book that went with the first i bought for a person who spends a lot of time indoors.  again she was really pleased with it.

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*Store origin: BR*
*Last updated: 2026-02-17*