No 13393, Wednesday 03 Nov 2021, WrdPlougher

Solution to 17D 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

5   English Queen returning to castle, King removed fur coat (6) ERMINE {E}{ER<=} over MIN Anno not clear (Addendum - {E}{ER<=} over {MINk} - See comments)

7   Brent typically phony, operated by controlling people and flattery? (5,3) CRUDE OIL Anno pending. Solution thanks to Google (Addendum - (~crewed){CRUDE}{OIL} - See comments)

9   Very exciting finale full of energy, where you might take note of gossip? (4-4) VINE-LEAF {V}{FINALE}* over {E} Definition not understood. I have heard of Grapevine but not this?

10 Something that is hard to handle when hot vessel is used — to import, place order (6) POTATO {POT}{AT}{O} What's the role of 'is used'?

11 In years, having four scores to settle, try retaliating, organising action near... (12) OCTOGENARIAN {GO<=} in {ACTION+NEAR}* What's the role of  'to settle'?

13 ... say, coffee restaurant — launching the last one (6) LATTER {LATTE}{Re...t}

15 Wrongly tag French water and cake (6) GATEAU {TAG*}{EAU}

18 Apt to fret like a guitar tuned under the influence? (6,6) HIGHLY STRUNG [DD]

21 Green vegetable salads often retain raw evergreen leaves for starters (6) SORREL Acrostic

22 Fang still very rounded inside, eh? (3,5) EYE TOOTH {E{YET}{OOT<=}H}

23 Strays devoured the last bit of leftovers, following Indian madam (8) DEVIATES {DEVI}{ATE}{l...rS}

24 So, shedding tears eventually to get closure, initially nervous about heart-attack? (6) THENCE THE{Ne...s}{C}E Anno pending (Addendum - {T(+h)HEN(-s+c)CE} - See comments)

DOWN

1   Joke about idiotic dope, pun essentially, killed (5,3) WIPED OUT {WI{DOPE*}{pUn}T}

2   Cop out and about — officer — gangster absconding near Central, Minnesota (6) RENEGE {GENERal<=}{m..nEs..a}

3   Posh politician hugged by sweetheart, abandoning essentially hearty short stocky man (8) DUMPLING {D{U}{MP}arLING{

4   Jam ingredient obtaining mixture of nip, etc. (6) PECTIN*

6   Mac operated by company accountant, discontented without Internet at first (8) RAINCOAT {RA{In...t}N}{CO}{Ac...nT}

7   Coat in fact an explosive (6) CAFTAN* 

8   Rio takes shelter for a little bit (4) IOTA [T]

12 Attractive charisma’s not gross (8) MAGNETIC Anno pending (Addendum - {MAG{NET}IC} - See comments)

14 Organise excellent German university students in singular grade all-round (8) REGULATE {R{E}{G}{U}{L}ATE} E/Excellent?

16 Yield to violently extreme rowdyism, initially awkwardly run inside (8) TURNOVER {T{RUN*}O}{Vi...y}{Ex...e}{Ro...m}

17 Instruments that hold ragas inside (nothing as constant) exuding before softly transcending (6) ?L?E?S ()

18 In front of a German gentleman’s address in Munich — not quite in this place (6) HEREIN {EIN}<=>{HERr}

19 Works hard to dismantle uneven back-end, going extremely near to the rear aboard ship (6) SWEATS WEAT in {SS} Anno pending

20 HIT training’s good (4) POKE {P{OK}E}

Reference List

English = E, Queen = ER, King = K, Very = V, Energy = E, Order = O, Water in French = EAU, Indian madam = DEVI, Gangster = AL(Capone),  Posh = U, German = G, University = U, Student = L, A in German = EIN, Ship = SS, Traing = PE