Cryptic Crosswords

I discovered cryptic or "British" crosswords a few years ago. I've tried some of the collections published in England, but found the clues and references too specific to British culture and slang. I bought the first MENSA edition of cryptics several years ago, did the puzzles in pencil, have erased them and re-done them three times now. I'm pleased they've published a second edition. The cryptics published in the States (these from MENSA and one from the New Yorker magazine) are fun and challenging. If you are a crossword buff and consider yourself pretty good, I highly suggest trying these.

As the name suggests, this is Mensa-quality challenge. You will do better with all distractions turned off and a couple of sharp pencils. The clues are completely fair, and there is a sense of accomplishment - even if you can't finish every square. I recommend this puzzle book to everyone who is not intimidated by wordplay.Mensa Cryptic Crosswords 2 (Mensa)

They definitely come harder than this - don't be scared off by the Mensa logo - but they are challenging and mostly logical. It's hard for many puzzle constructors to follow the loose rules of cryptic crosswords, but Cox and Rathvon do a good job - they're more predictable than British constructors and I think more consistent than average. As in their first book, they write these puzzles with half an eye toward America, even though they are first published in Canada. Thus the "dialect," so to speak, isn't difficult, and I've never come across anything unfamiliar even though I've only been to Canada for a grand total of two weeks.