Time: 8 minutes. A thoroughly enjoyable puzzle from Trelawney aimed squarely at the QC market, I would suggest. How did you do?
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]. “Aural wordplay” is in quotation marks. I now use a Caret sign ⁁ to indicate an insertion point in containment clues. I usually omit all reference to juxtaposition indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
 Across |
|
|---|---|
| 1 | Environment inside marsh a bit atypical (7) |
| HABITAT – Hidden [inside] {mars}H A BIT AT{ypical} | |
| 5 | Piece of music expected before end of concert (4) |
| DUET – DUE (expected), {concer}T [end of…] | |
| 7 | Somewhat overhype a nutritious edible seed (6) |
| PEANUT – Hidden in [somewhat] {overhy}PE A NUT{ritious} | |
| 8 | International organisation simply not fair (6) |
| UNJUST – UN (international organisation – United Nations), JUST (simply) | |
| 9 | Nerdy European hosting start of costly activity for couples (6,5) |
| SQUARE DANCE – SQUARE (nerdy, DAN⁁E (European) containing [hosting] C{ostly} [start of…] | |
| 10 | Winner is Frankenstein, for example (6) |
| VICTOR – Two definitions. Victor Frankenstein. | |
| 12 | It supports whitewater enthusiast? (6) |
| RAFTER – Two meanings | |
| 14 | Drinks event to secure arrival time — smart! (4,7) |
| WINE TASTING – WIN (secure) ETA (arrival time – Estimated Time of Arrival), STING (smart) | |
| 17 | Place for worshipping part of head (6) |
| TEMPLE – Two meanings | |
| 18 | Bury institution’s last trainee (6) |
| INTERN – INTER (bury), {institutio}N [’s last] | |
| 20 | Fine with duck and bovine returning (4) |
| OKAY – 0 (duck), then YAK (bovine) reversed [returning] | |
| 21 | Met hero developing proposition (7) |
| THEOREM – Anagram [developing] of MET HERO | |
| Down |
|
|---|---|
| 1 | Shade house regularly (3) |
| HUE – H{o}U{s}E [regularly] | |
| 2 | Forbid one to leave peaceful feast (7) |
| BANQUET – BAN (forbid), QU{i}ET (peaceful) [one to leave] | |
| 3 | Coach’s expression of annoyance, alternatively (5) |
| TUTOR – TUT (expression of annoyance), OR (alternatively) | |
| 4 | He’d turn off loud noise? (7) |
| THUNDER – Anagram [off] of HE’D TURN | |
| 5 | Detective with journal primarily on French city (5) |
| DIJON – DI (detective), J{ournal} [primarily], ON | |
| 6 | Greet sage cooking seasonal treat (6,3) |
| EASTER EGG – Anagram [cooking] of GREET SAGE | |
| 9 | Phew — Rick’s sorted out disaster at sea (9) |
| SHIPWRECK – Anagram [sorted out] of PHEW RICK’S | |
| 11 | Withdraw extremely rude nurse (7) |
| RETREAT – R{ud}E [extremely], TREAT (nurse) | |
| 13 | Right to split healthier bit of fried food (7) |
| FRITTER – R (right) contained by [to split] F⁁ITTER (healthier) | |
| 15 | What a baby needs — sleep and empty potty? (5) |
| NAPPY – NAP (sleep), P{ott}Y [empty] | |
| 16 | Capture bodies of water, reportedly (5) |
| SEIZE – Aural wordplay [reportedly]: “seas” (bodies of water) | |
| 19 | Liquor and cut of beef unfinished (3) |
| RUM – RUM{p} (cut of beef) [unfinished] | |
Dear me, a very easy and entertaining puzzle that was all done in about 8 minutes. Except, haha, I could not think of VICTOR. Well. Tomorrow’s another day. 18:57 to actually finish. I expect to see some PBs. Congratulations to all.
Thanks Trelawney and Jack.
Can’t tell you how grateful I am to Trelawney. Was pulling my hair out last week. I rarely complete a puzzle but almost done today in 10.30! Only the Frankenstein clue stopped me. It didn’t occur to me to think of a given name but, a fair clue in any event.
I do like a Trelawney crossword. Apart from the folk song with his name!
Also learning Victor for Frankenstein
AD&D in 15
Great puzzle where elegance in cluing wasn’t sacrificed to make a very accessible QC. It wasn’t difficult but neither was dumbed down. Well done. Yes a very fast solve, but enjoyable too.
FOI 2a Duet
LOI 12a Rafter
COD 12a Rafter
Trelawney is one of my favourite setters and this one illustrates why: clear, clever clues and fun answers. Since music is one of my stronger suits, the 2m I took to get DUET seems odd in retrospect (!) But all done in 15m and thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks Trelawney and Jack.
After taking well over an hour to grind out today’s 15 by 15, this was a welcome relief. At 6:20 must be one of my quickest QC solves.
Thanks Squire & Jack
04:49 and 134th on the leaderboard – yikes!
Thanks J&T
05:56
A new PB has given me the courage to emerge from the shadows after a decade! Thanks to everyone for the advice and encouragement over the years.
I set a par of 15 minutes now for my post-work meditation and still enjoy plenty of visits to the SCC by the weekend offerings: a journey not a destination 🙂
Nice to hear from you, Landau and I hope you will contribute to the (oft ridiculous) discussions here again. Good luck tomorrow!
☺️
As a new solver I echo that!
Thanks to Trewlaney and Jackkt
5.05. One of my faster efforts.
First time I’ve ever completed a cryptic crossword. 30mins. And I’m 54!