Everyman 3,958/21 August

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Another generally sound puzzle from Everyman for our Sunday entertainment. I got a bit stuck in the SW quadrant, but it came together in the end with a bit of pencil-chewing. Abbreviations cd … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1696 Brunel

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Thank you to Brunel. Some nice surfaces here. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Aimless, wandering girl (7) MELISSA : Anagram of(…, wandering) AIMLESS. 5. Superficial cut in in former Murdoch … Read more >>

Independent 11,193 by Serpent

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The last Saturday in August brings a puzzle from Serpent.

And usually a theme, but I don’t see it today. 9ac, 18ac and 5dn are my favourite clues – the usual smooth surfaces prevalent throughout.

Thanks Serpent and assistance with 4dn gratefully received. Though as I’m currently in the North of Scotland may take a little while to update.

Also the hidden theme would be nice to know – I’m sure there is one.

Key * anagram, dd double definition, rev reversed, underline definition.

Across

1 Drug problem starts to attract troublesome element (7)
Habit (drug problem) + at (starts to attract troublesome) = HABITAT

5 Wary of running feud disrupting almost all aid (7)
Help (aid) – p around (feud) = HEEDFUL

9 Rubbish broadcaster on radio set fire to a hidden mike (9)
Homonym of Lit a (set fire too) + bug (hidden mike) = LITTERBUG

10 Cap on splitting money in speculative venture (5)
Re (on) in bet (money in speculative venture) = BERET

11 What stops triumph over order? (6)
Eh(what) in best (triumh) = BEHEST

12 Cost of moving goods vehicle (8)
DD CARRIAGE

14 Arrested man reversed charges and called informally (9)
Nicked (arrested) around Rev. man = NICKNAMED

16 Exclude some testimony that’s been retracted (4)
Rev. hidden tesTIMOny = OMIT

18 Counter had fine cheese (4)
Rev. ate + f (fine) = FETA

20 Collected head of state in navy vessel at sea (9)
(RN+ vessel + s)* = NERVELESS

23 Broadcast again revolved around argument that’s more bigoted (8)
Rev. reran (broadcast again) around row (argument) = NARROWER

24 Group blocking postgraduate qualification for medicine man (6)
Gang (group) in ma (postgraduate qualification) = MGANGA

27 Warning from porter perhaps emptied restaurant (5)
Ale (porter perhaps) + rt (emptied restaurant) = ALERT

28 Made known criminal’s last dealings subject to review (9)
(l + dealings)* = SIGNALLED

29 Have Post Office review following disappearance of article (7)
Po(post office) + assess (review) – a = POSSESS

30 Royal Navy pilot admits being less lenient (7)
Rn (royal navy) in steer (pilot) = STERNER

Down

1 Absolutely determined that Man will be proven innocent ultimately (4-4)
He’ll be (that man will be) + nt (proven innocent ultimately) = HELL-BENT

2 Complain about hospital following drill (5)
Bit (drill) + c(about) + h (hospital) = BITCH

3 Suspect senator’s attempting to overthrow government? (7)

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