No 13377, Thursday 14 Oct 2021, Incognito

Solution to 24D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

8   Can’t shade? (4) TINT {TIN}{T}

9   Cunningly avoided pet and recorded (10) VIDEOTAPED*

10 Cook roe with dal. It can be trying! (6) ORDEAL*

11 Replied, “And sewer is destroyed” (8) ANSWERED*

12 Anil’s ark sailed around large island near India (3,5) SRI LANKA* 

14 Seduce ward with diamond (6) ENTICE {ENT}{ICE}

16 Boy with animal'’s deep sounding (4) BASS {B}{ASS}

17 Finest suburbs have tree houses, perhaps (5) NESTS [T]

18 After loss of right, European becomes socially inept person (4) GEEK GrEEK

19 Alumnus in crumpled sari makes line on map (6) ISOBAR {IS{OB}AR*}

21 Male bird follows male human for plant (8) MANDRAKE {DRAKE}<=>{MAN}

23 Graphical representation of tavern sales, for example (3,5) BAR CHART [C&DD]

26 Prisoner of war takes sick after keeping head on this? (6) PILLOW {P{ILL}OW}

27 Excitedly tell Eve to start to read romantic communication (4,6) LOVE LETTER {TELL+EVE+TO+Read}*

28 Skin problem can spread exponentially at first (4) ACNE {CAN}*{Ex...y}

DOWN

1   Book-keepers’ zodiac sign rani ordered before start of summer (10) LIBRARIANS {LIBRA}{RANI*}{Su...r}

2   Metal having phosphorus initially employed specially for making spires (8) STEEPLES {STEE{P}L}{Em...d}{Sp...y}

3   Gardner gets half of London and Arthur’s isle (6) AVALON {AVA}{LONdon}

4   Snide advisor’s brainwave (4) IDEA [T]

5   Tombs constructed for queen and some scary hoodlums (8) MOBSTERS {TOMBS*}{ER}{Scary}

6   Gift story books (6) TALENT {TALE}{NT}

7   Journalist’s in church. Give up? (4) CEDE {C{ED}E}

13 State: Idiot has a martini in the beginning (5) ASSAM {ASS}{A}{Ma...i}

15 Perhaps Charlie broke chicken pot? (10) CHECKPOINT*

17 Tells, “Ran back with taxes” (8) NARRATES {RAN<=}{RATES}

18 Apes roughed up Laos girl (8) GORILLAS*

20 Supported sailor going back damaged deck (6) BACKED {AB<=}{DECK*}

22 Sleep on Eastern railway getting some old kind of linen (6) NAPERY {NAP}{E}{RY}

24 Presently nameless author, in short (4) A?O? ( Addendum - ANON [DD] - See comments) 

25 Trade unions’ dress (4) TUTU {TU}{TU}

Reference List

Right = R, Alumnus = OB(Old Boy), Queen = ER, Books = NT(New Testament), Journalist = ED, Church = CE, Sailor = AB, Railway = RY, Trade Union = TU