No 12784, Tuesday 19 Nov 2019, KrisKross

ACROSS
1   Read out one of the gospels as a farewell message (4,4) DEAR JOHN {READ}*{JOHN}
5   Entrance of sadly empty plant (6) SPURGE {Sa..y}{PURGE}

9   Computer to be assembled during recess (8) NOTEBOOK {N{TO+BE}*OOK}
10 Alert to look around for sustenance (6) UPKEEP {UP}{PEEK<=}
12 Mostly ride llama around ring — a tame animal (9) ARMADILLO {RIDe+LLAMA}*{O}

13 Strange to exchange rook for knight, or another piece (5) QUEEN QUEE(-r+n)N
14 Home of the ape perhaps — man’s original race (4) ZOOM {ZOO}{Man}
16 Where you can see a matinee program at three (7) THEATRE* &lit
19 Universities welcoming queen with money for key component of Manhattan project (7) URANIUM {U}{RANI}{U}{M}
21 Punch bag (4) POKE [DD]
24 One regularly beating up even elders, unfortunately (5) PULSE {UP+eLdErS}*
25 He can recall everything in moments, surprisingly (9) MNEMONIST* Semi&lit
27 Private eye, when talking on the phone, pulled over (6) INWARD (~eye){I}{DRAWN<=}
28 Believe it or not, Bill heartily denounced a friend (8) ACTUALLY {ACT}{denoUnced}{ALLY}
29 Slept off as agreed (6) NODDED [DD]
30 Daughter headed off outside, as mentioned (8) ADVERTED {A{D}VERTED}

DOWN
1   Study short story about canines, perhaps (6) DENTAL {DEN}{TALe}
2   Sons and I somehow got lost in Rocky Mountains (US) this season (6) AUTUMN {MoUNTAins+Us}*

3   One substituting nothing in work by editor, gets derided (5) JIBED {J(-o+1}IB}{ED}
4  Buzz circulating over crazy old gangster (7) HOODLUM {H{O}{OLD*}UM}
6   Nobody quips about wearing crown (9) PIPSQUEAK {P{QUIPS*}EAK}
7   Again chooses rock, pop etc. over core classical (8) REELECTS {REEL}{ETC*}{clasSical}
8   Used long pole’s tip for support, finally (8) EXPENDED EX(-t+p)PENDED
11 Student going through note gets a shock (4) JOLT {JO{L}T}
15 Tore helter-skelter around burning English shrub (5,4) OLIVE TREE {O{LIVE}TRE*}{E}
17 Bottle with sticker on top: “Please turn it over” (8) GUMPTION {GUM}{Pl...e}{IT<=}{ON}
18 Permitted husband to lead, being worthy of respect (8) HALLOWED {H}{ALLOWED}
20 Poem I made up describing an actor (4) MIME [T<=]
21 Hurt and angry without a piece of chocolate after dessert (7) PIERCED {PIE}{R{Ch...e}ED}
22 KrisKross will break iron bar to make a narrow strip (6) FILLET {F{I'LL}E}{T}
23 Remained calm in discussion (6) STAYED (~staid)
26 Cracked by you: “Love” cryptically means “egg” (5) OVULE {U+LOVE}*

Reference List
Ring = O, Rook = R, Knight = N, University = U, Money = M, Daughter = D, Over = O,  Student = L, English = E, Husband = H, Bar = T, You = U