Dean Mayer & The Sunday Times

[pkk31]

Is it just me, or are some of Mr Mayer's clues a bit 'desperate'. He seems sometimes to try so hard to be cryptic that the puzzle becomes pretty much unsolvable.... unless you've been following his puzzles for a very long time?

[toalisi]

Every setter has his own technique. If the crossword editor was
concerned about the quality of the clues the compiler's work
would not be accepted.
Can you post some clues which you feel are so hard as to be
unsolvable?

[pkk31]

Well, I appreciate it's maybe only me, but as an example, in last week's I'd never have known the Listener was a tough crossword, so, even if I'd worked out the clues, the answer would have made no sense to me whatsoever. And the selection of initial or individual letters from words in some clues seems pretty much entirely random so as to allow him to spell the word - there's no discernible pattern... That said, don't get me wrong - I can see how they work when I've got the answer from you guys on here and I still enjoy them and pick up the paper every week. Only a couple I couldn't get this time, so I'm getting much better at deciphering him...