Independent Crossword 9278 by Serpent

A new setter for me to blog today. How devious is Serpent’s clueing? And is there anything hidden?

A very enjoyable puzzle indeed.

Some novel clues 10ac and 7dn were unusual but my favourite was 17ac – beautifully simple yet so elegant. 19dn was also a pleasure. 16dn was the last one I parsed. Very devious use of the word dictator.

And was there anything hidden in the grid – actually multiple items. The top and bottom rows both spell MAGRITTE as in the Belgian surrealist artist and in my opinion humourist too. ‘Ceci n’est pas un pipe’ is one of my favourites of his.

Or in this case – Ceci n’est pas un mots de crosse or words to that effect with the 2nd and penultimate columns spelling out “This is not a NINA”. Or is it?

An excellent puzzle – many thanks Serpent

Key * anagram; Underline definition; rev. reverse

Across

9 Dead quietly buried in kind of service held by American church (2,5)

P (quietly) in tea (a kind of service) in A (American) + ce (church) = AT PEACE

10 One of life’s little necessities that’s free of charge (7)

NEUTRON (Cryptic definition)

11 Become irritated when restaurant includes tip for “hosting” (5)

Café (restaurant) around h (tip for “hosting) = CHAFE

 12 Urchin blended to a paste with duck (3,6)

(to a paste + o)* = SEA POTATO

 13 Incendiary material gutted bank (4)

(material – ma..al {gutted})* = TIER

14 They get drunk and spoil gossip about woman (10)

Mar (spoil) + gas (gossip) around Rita (woman) = MARGARITAS 

17 Concentrate less and hence start late (7)

Less (-l – start late) + hence(-h – start late) = ESSENCE

18 Choice cut by the three leading establishments in Bow (4,3)

Bend (bow) around est (three leading establishments) = BEST END

20 Did very little as American lunged, piercing heart (6,4)

Dove (American lunged) in Ticker (heart) = TICKED OVER

22 Disheartened would-be sire that’s not covered dam (4)

We (disheartened would-be) + ir (sire that’s not covered) = WEIR

25 The most important and original case study in Christian literature (9)

(case)* + den (study) in nt (Christion literature) = ASCENDENT

27 Consuming hummus in Greek wraps (5)

Hidden hummUS IN Greek = USING

28 Rather slow article by poet (7)

An (article) + Dante (poet) = ANDANTE

29 One school friend’s admitted relating to religious celebration (7)

Pal (friend) arouns a + sch (school) = PASCHAL

 

Down

1 Ship’s staff welcoming officer’s charm (6)

Mast (Ship’s staff) around CO (officer) = MASCOT

2 Labour leader appears dishevelled in old clothes (8)

(appears + l)* = APPARELS

3 Stared vacantly at Guardian‘s first barred puzzle (5)

G(guradian’s first) + AZED (barred puzzle) = GAZED

4 Regime’s case against guns (4)

Re (Regime’s case) + vs (against) = REVS

5 Hard to see it enabling reforms (10)

(it enabling)* = INTANGIBLE

6 Trade union rebelled following regressive measure that’s emblematic of old regime (5,4)

TU (trade union) + rose (rebelled) after Rev (Rod (measure)) = TUDOR ROSE

7 You can’t teach this one a lesson! (6)

TRUANT (Cryptic definition)

8 Red Nose Day cast backed campaign (8)

(red nose d)* = ENDORSED

15 Poorly men, to me, are what could determine doctor’s rate? (10)

(me to me are)* = ANENOMETER (A doctor is a cool sea breeze)

16 Popular dictator’s going off locking people up (9)

in (popular) + terning (Homonym of turning (going off)) = INTERNING

17 Special preserve of ancillary officer following revolution (5,3)

Extra (ancilliary) + Rev. Maj (officer) = EXTRA JAM

19 First person quote on the radio makes sense (8)

Homonoym of I cite = EYESIGHT

21 Bad guy infiltrating government agency reveals bug(6)

Cad (Bad guy) in Cia (government agency) = CICADA

23 To begin with, Edward Elgar composed to entertain (6)

(E + Elgar)* = REGALE

24 Search and interrogate one charged in absentia (5)

Inquest(one charged – in) = QUEST

26 Home of the indigenous Plains Indians originally (4)

T I P I (the indigenous Plains Indians originally) = TIPI