Ingenious and deftly crafted
Across
1 Birth defect – mostly with sameness, I fancy SIAMESE TWINS
(MOSTLY SAMENESS I)*
10 Emperor finally clothed in new, brilliant, shiny stuff NACRE
[empero]R in N (new) ACE (brilliant)
12 Some Syrians had a plan DRUSE D (had) RUSE (plan)
13 Flyer, not black, in breeze by day ANTBIRD
NT (not) B (black) in AIR (breeze) D (day)
14 Current not entirely dry, satisfying mites ACARI
AC (current) ARI[d] (not entirely dry)
16 Carbon once little recalled in hydrocarbon radical CETYL
C (carbon) LYTE< (little once recalled)
17 Meet manufacturer introducing new hat FORGATHER
(HAT)* in FORGER (manufacturer)
18 Old dog – manly but without new tricks LYAM (MA[n]LY)*
20 Cash in India formerly invested in the hospital and police station THANNAH
ANNA (old Indian currency) in TH (the) H (hospital)
22 With difficulty, restored atmosphere in ancient kingdom ILLYRIA
ILLY (with difficulty) AIR< (atmosphere restored)
23 Gallant archer’s requirement mentioned on radio BEAU sounds like BOW
26 Old French doctor’s sinfulness curtailed by many people at home
GUILLOTIN GUIL[t] (sinfulness curtailed) LOT (many people) IN (at home)
29 Religious vessel, mostly broad and slow backing round one GRAIL
I (one) in LARG[o]< (broad and slow – music) back
31 Behold zone with capital of Italy, nothing more LAZIO &lit
LA (behold) Z (zone) I (capital of Italy) O (nothing)
32 Cocktail, not large, though filled with skill MARTINI
ART (skill) in MINI (not large)
33 Empty areas are not entirely reduced in Virginia VACUA
A (are) CU[t] (reduced not entirely) in VA (Virginia)
34 Information that’s kept about environmentalist GREEN
RE (about) in GEN (information)
35 Greyish rook flapping round fine grass YORKSHIRE FOG
F (fine) in (GREYISH ROOK)*
Down
1 Vulgar Heather engaged in murder and crime by stages SNAFFLING-LAY
trade of highwayman NAFF (vulgar) LING (heather) in SLAY (murder)
2 Agent heading off his client? &lit ACTOR [f]ACTOR (agent minus head)
3 One commanding old riflemen to board fighter MR BIG
RB (Rifle Brigade) in MIG (fighter plane)
4 Musical forms provoking titters STRETTI (TITTERS)*
5 Topless lingerie item making you whirl EDDY [t]EDDY (lingerie item topped)
6 A bracelet replaced may be readily found TRACEABLE (A BRACELET)*
7 Dyestuff that is enveloping fabric ISATINE oxidised iodine
SATIN (fabric) in IE (that is)
8 Welsh girl is not poetic, retaining hesitation NERYS
ER (hesitation) in NYS (is not – poetic)
9 Work involved in diverting stalker’s action STILL HUNTING
TILL (work) in SHUNTING (diverting)
11 Sound system’s eliminated first bug ANNOY [t]ANNOY (sound system)
15 Compel us to carry our line out, talking on and on GARRULOUS
GAR (compel) (OUR L)* US
19 A sick man circling Catholic palace in Spain ALCAZAR
C (catholic) in A LAZAR (sick man – leper)
21 Bugle-call entirely captured in one note, elevated HALLALI
ALL (entirely) in I LAH< (one note elevated)
24 Is found in a Scots department AISNE IS in ANE (a Scottish)
25 Assassin’s code word BRAVO dd
27 Fantastic time in our house, ultimately OUTRE
T (time) in OUR [hous]E
28 The force should catch one! THEIF &lit I (one) in THE F (force)
30 Two amateurs upset nurse AMAH HAM A< (amateur x 2 upset)
( )* = anagram [ ] = omit < = reverse dd = double definition