Another new setter for me (in this guise, at least), and a masterly puzzle, full of originality. It took me a little while to get into and kept me on my toes throughout. Thank-you, Artexlen.
ACROSS
1. SUPPLIER I [one] in suppler [not so tough]
6. BEHEST HE [His/Her Excellency, ambassador] within best [elite]
9. UNCLIP Un [French for ‘a’] + clip [magazine, ammunition]
10. MUG’S GAME Mugs [lare cups] + game [with spirit]
11. MEWS Double definition
12. GUESTIMATE Guest [visitor] + I [one] + mate [couple]
14. STARKERS Anagram of streakers minus E [Ecstasy]
16. COOT Reversal of too [very] + C [cold]
18. SIGN Sounds like sine [mathematical function]
19. INCREASE In [popular] + as [when] within Cree [Native American]
21. PASS MUSTER Anagram of Spurs teams
22. MIDI Reversal of I [one] + dim [dull]
24. PEACENIK (I)ceni [Boudicca’s people] within peak [culmination] – a wonderful clue
26. HAUNCH A within hunch [large lump]
27. PENTAD Anagram of adept n [new]
28. NERVE GAS N [new] + ER [Elizbeth Regina, monarch] + Vegas [party town]
DOWN
2. ULNAE Odd (i.e. alternate) letters of dUbLiN bAy Earth
3. PULL STRINGS Pull [jerk] + strings [rows]
4. IMPUGNED Pug [dog] within anagram of denim
5. RUMPELSTILTSKIN Anagram of kitten slurps mil(k)
6. BOGOTA Reversal of Togo [African country] within BA [Bachelor of Arts, graduate]
7. HUG Hug(e) [titanic]
8. SUMPTUOUS Sum [problem] + reversal of out [abroad] within p [piano] + US [American]
13. MICKEY MOUSE Mic [microphone, computer hardware] + key [as in -board, computer hardware] + mouse [computer hardware]
15. TAIWANESE Anagram of I saw eaten
17. SCORCHER Reversal of crocs [reptiles] + her [woman]
20. BURNED Hidden in reversal of garDEN RUBbish
23. DACHA A [ace] + CH [Central Heating] within reversal of ad [commercial]
25. CUT C [circa, about] + U(trech)t
Thanks Ringo and *(eXternal),
There was some good stuff here.
I think you mean that TAIWANESE is an anagram of “I saw eaten”.
Hi Muffyword. Indeed I did – thanks! Nothing good ever comes of blogging in a hurry…
It would appear congratulations are in order for Inquisitor setter eXternal! Well done, buddy – cracking FT debut as well.
Nice stuff from eX as expected but fairly easy. Needed some care as I’ve seen 5d spelled differently elsewhere… Ta Ringo for the blog.
Welcome,Artexlen. Thanks for some great clues. I agree with Ringo — 24ac was a scorcher.