Solving time: 9:01. I got in a bit of a fuddle near the end since I was utterly convinced that my answer at 6 down was correct but it didn’t work with the obvious answer at 10 across. Finally figured out it was a cryptic definition, which is often my downfall in crosswords. Well that and fat fingers, poor spellchecking and all round not being that bright.
Greetings from Melbourne! Visiting family here so I won’t be checking up on this – if you have questions, check the comments.
The first definition in each clue is underlined.
Away we go…
| Across | |
| 1 | Suitor with style enthralling new society types (4,5) |
| BEAU MONDE – BEAU(suitor) and MODE(style) containing N(new) | |
| 6 | Better class of religion found in Tyrrhenian location (5) |
| CAPRI – CAP(better, beat) then RI(Religious Instruction) | |
| 9 | Single mothers becoming learned theologians (5) |
| IMAMS – I(single), MAMS(mothers) | |
| 10 | Hired privately, plotted to capture the monarch (9) |
| CHARTERED – CHARTED(plotted) containing ER | |
| 11 | Main connection linking stars to conservation group (7) |
| HYDRANT – the constellation HYDRA with NT(National Trust) and a nice definition | |
| 12 | Cross appearing in church with Tempter going about? (7) |
| LURCHER – CH(church) with LURER(tempter) surrounding it. A cross breed of dog | |
| 13 | Perhaps Chuck senior has grizzle, eschewing hotel booze (10,4) |
| ELDERBERRY WINE – Good Golly Miss Molly it’s Chuck BERRY the ELDER then WHINE(grizzle) missing H(hotel) | |
| 17 | I won’t mean solid somehow, being shallow (3-11) |
| TWO-DIMENSIONAL – anagram of I,WON’T,MEAN,SOLID | |
| 21 | Privileged member holding office, socialist is backed (7) |
| INSIDER – IN(holding office), then RED(socialist) IS all reversed | |
| 23 | Guts failing to save second artist (7) |
| VISCERA – VICE(failing) containing S(second), then RA(artist) | |
| 25 | Change examination to accommodate current leader (9) |
| EDITORIAL – EDIT(change), ORAL(examination) containin I(current) | |
| 26 | Greek island in which Corinthians curtailed amusement (5) |
| CORFU – COR(Corinthians) then FUN (amusement) missing the last letter | |
| 27 | Investor for show one might be recording (5) |
| ANGEL – double definition, since there is a RECORDING ANGEL keeping a book of misdeeds. Probably a very very long book. | |
| 28 | Ely with Labour turning a shade Conservative? (5,4) |
| ROYAL BLUE – anagram of ELY and LABOUR | |
| Down | |
| 1 | Wretch born on boat (8) |
| BLIGHTER – B(born), LIGHTER(boat) | |
| 2 | Hostilities interrupting commercial settlement (5) |
| AWARD – WAR(hostilities) inside AD(commercial) – court settlemtent | |
| 3 | Man turning religious is butchered (9) |
| MASSACRED – the man is SAM, then SACRED reversed | |
| 4 | Showing audacity before match, one can get knotted (7) |
| NECKTIE – NECK(audacity) then TIE(match) | |
| 5 | Atelier designed for one who’d make a net profit? (1-6) |
| E-TAILER – anagram of ATELIER, and a profit over the net | |
| 6 | Ensure provision is made to do the dishes? (5) |
| CATER – cryptic definition. I was sure this was CLEAR as a double definition | |
| 7 | Catch up with female working in temple (9) |
| PARTHENON – TRAP (catch) reversed, then HEN(female) ON(working) | |
| 8 | Popular physicist short with a certain Gandhi (6) |
| INDIRA – IN(popular) then the physicist missing the last letter is Paul DIRAC | |
| 14 | Consumes some chicken in trend towards recession? (9) |
| DOWNSWING – DOWNS(consumes), WING(some chicken) | |
| 15 | Mischievous, tailless cat, not accepted in stage show (9) |
| WHIMSICAL – WHIP(cat) missing the last letter, then no U(accepted) in MUSICAL(stage show) | |
| 16 | Satisfaction guaranteed with request (8) |
| PLEASURE – SURE(guaranteed) and PLEA(request) | |
| 18 | Male dog slipping lead is more carefree (7) |
| MERRIER – M(male) and TERRIER(dog) missing the fist letter | |
| 19 | Literary work ends in tragedy, prompting curiosity (7) |
|
NOVELTY – NOVEL(literary work) and T |
|
| 20 | Modern art medicine man exhibits (6) |
| CINEMA – hidden inside mediCINE MAn | |
| 22 | Strangely amusing nobleman lifted line (5) |
| DROLL – LORD(nobleman) reversed, then L(line) | |
| 24 | Revolutionary wisdom gathered about new recruit (5) |
| ENROL – reverse LORE(wisdom) and insert N(new) | |
Really nice stuff and great blog too.