Fine fare
Across
1 INDISCREET (tactless) (CRETIN DIES)*
7 SAFE dd
9 STAG (animal) T[hreatened] in SAG (decline)
10 ASTOUNDING (shocking) [h]OUND (‘arry) in STING (scam)
11 SCREEN (guard) CR (crown) in SEEN (noticed)
12 NUTRIENT (sustenance) NUT (lunatic) I (island) in RENT (tore)
13 ASPIRATE (supply air) ASP (snake) IRATE (very angry)
15 STEP (tramp) PETS< (caresses rejected)
17 EDIT (check) TIDE< (tendency retrograde)
19 ON THE JOB (at work) (JOHN TO BE)*
22 REVEREND (minister) EVER (always) in REND (distress)
23 INFLUX (stream) N FLU (new infection) in IX (nine)
25 ILLITERATE (a dunce) ILL (sick) ITERATE (quote)
26 VIEW (opinion) VIE (contest) W (wife)
27 TREK (march) hidden backwards in [po]KER T[ournament]
28 ELECTORATE (voters) ELECT (prefer) O RATE (no local tax)
Down
2 NOTICES (advertisements) (SECTION)*
3 INGLE (fire) [s]INGLE (one)
4 CHAINSAW (powered devise) CHAIN (bond) SAW (noticed)
5 ENTENTE CORDIALE (agreement) (DECLINE TO ENTER A)*
6 TRUSTY (faithful) T (tenor) RUSTY (out of practice)
7 SIDE ISSUE (lesser matter) (SUSIE DIES)*
8 FINANCE (money) N[ationalist] in FIANCE (intended)
14 IN THE PINK (very well) IN (batting) EP (record) in THINK (reason)
16 STRIDENT (unpleasantly rough) STRIDE (walk) NT (National Trust)
18 DWELLER (denizen) D WELLER (Sam in Pickwick Papers)
20 OPULENT (rich) OP (work) U (university) LENT (fast)
21 SEVERE (dangerous) SEVER (disconnect) E[lectricity]
24 FEVER (delirium) F (fellow) EVER (always)
( )* = anagram [ ] = omit < = reverse dd = double definition
Thanks Armonie for a crossword that was reasonably straightforward to solve but very enjoyable because of the many smooth surfaces, and thanks Jed for the blog. Too many good clues to single out a favourite.
17ac: My one grumble. This really is a completely ambiguous clue, although of course the ambiguity is resolved by either of the checked letters.
2dn: I am not completely happy with “special” as an anagram lead, but it is in the list in Chambers 2011 (in the section called A Wordgame Companion) so setters have every right to use it.
Thanks Armonie and Jed
Very enjoyable