Independent crossword 9428 by Eimi

As 2016 reaches its last day a no doubt topical puzzle from Eimi completes the Independent’s year of crosswords.

I always enjoy Eimi’s crosswords – they tend to have topical clues and this one as the old year dies is no exception. What a year to review in a mere 26 clues. The major tragedies of the year are all there where democracy defied logical thought in 18ac and 19ac – is this defined by 23ac I wonder. Two musical farewells in 10ac and 13ac, whilst two of my favourite musicians who have accompanied many a crossword solve over the years Keith Emerson and Greg Lake also joined the Hallelujah chorus this year.

As years go they don’t get much worse than 2016 so 1/9 ac to it and roll on 2017 where hopefully 17dn is not on the increase! Nor I would hope is 8dn but I suspect I may be wrong!

Thanks Eimi a fun solve as always – I do have the feeling 2017 may be even worse but there will always be crosswords to bury ones head in. A belated Merry Christmas to all setters, bloggers and readers and all the best for the year to come.

Key

anagram (*) Reverse (Rev.) Underline – definition DD Double defintion

Across

1/9 Graves suggesting appropriate farewell to 2016, to go by a death toll that’s terrible (4-3,2,3,4)

(to go by death toll)* = GOODBYE TO ALL THAT

10 Perhaps Cameron’s deferential gesture that is one of the departed (5,5)

David (Perhaps Cameron)  Bow (deferential gesture) + ie (that is) = DAVID BOWIE

11 Beer called for with certain crackers in French resort (8)

Homonym of Beer + Ritz (certain crackers) = BIARRITZ

13 One of the recently-departed – ambassador involved in trick (5)

HE (ambassador) in con (trick) = COHEN as in Leonard

14 Small fish smell (6)

S (small) + tench (fish) = STENCH

15 The Virgin bearing Jesus, figuratively, could be monumental work (7)

Mary (the Virgin) around son (Jesus) = MASONRY

16 Gathered American fool’s heartlessly elected (7)

Am (American) + ass + ed (heartlessly elected) = AMASSED

18 Result of referendum? At first Boris soundly trashes the thing (6)

B (at first Boris) + wrecks it (homonym) = BREXIT

19 Blast that thin-skinned racist from New York (5)

DD TRUMP as in Donald

20 Oration’s beginning with Home Thoughts, from Abroad, for example, when in the appropriate location (8)

o (Oration’s beginning) + Verse (Home Thoughts, from Abroad, for example) + as (when) = OVERSEAS

21 Interpreted Balls embracing Strictly as ‘adapted to changed circumstances’ (10)

Read (interpreted) + Ed (Balls) around Just (strictly) = READJUSTED

22 One of many voting in referendum for 18, lacking guts (4)

Brexit (18) – guts (ex) = BRIT

23 Hundred bet on outcome, which is crazy (5,3,4)

(hundred bet on)* = ROUND THE BEND

 

Down

2 Choirmaster set to adapt seasonal song (1,9,4)

(Choirmaster set)* = O Christmas Tree

3 Fernando Torres slightly to the right of the centre spot (3)

Hidden fernanDO Torres = DOT

4 Nosh, for example: something served after home improvement’s over (7)

Rev. DIY (home improvement) + dish (something served) = YIDDISH

5 Argentine marksman formerly in England taking part in uprising of Belize Veterans (5)

Rev. hidden beliZE VETerans = TEVEZ as in Carlos

6 They’re using commercial detectives to surround court (7)

Ad (commercial)  + Dis (detectives) around ct (court) = ADDICTS

7 Possibly runs hotline to find animal killers (4-7)

(runs hotline)*  LION HUNTERS

8 A certain form of dumbing-down in fancy editions I rewrite (14)

(fancy editions I)* == DISNEYFICATION

12 Edna returns and in review gets torn to pieces (4,7)

(Edna returns)* = RENT ASUNDER

15 Scooter boy in the war department (3)

DD MOD (Ministry of Defence and Mods)

17 British clubs essentially supporting Blatter, which is suicide (7)

UK (british) + u (clubs essentially) after Sepp (Blatter) = SEPPUKU

18 Inspiration to include diameter in measurement (7)

Breath (inspiration) around d (diameter) = BREADTH

20 Chose to feature Tory leader in newspaper article (5)

Op-ed (newspaper article) around t (Tory leader) = OPTED

22 2016 Nobel laureate’s hairstyle (3)

DD Bob as in Dylan