The Sunday Crossword No 3213, Sunday 31 Jul 2022

ACROSS

1   Monsoon, so golf's abandoned: here's a good book! (4,2,7) SONG OF SOLOMON*

8   Shy actors (4) CAST [DD]

9   Edifies the vacuous English knight in need of reform (10) ENLIGHTENS {ThE+ENGLISH+N}* 

10 Largely superficial on-screen device (6) CURSOR CURSORy

11 Feline coils wool (he's known for playing) (3,5) TOM HANKS {TOM}{HANKS}

12 Everyman's retreated inside, mean Northern heavyweight wanting a game (9) BADMINTON {I'M<=} in {BAD}{N}{TON} What's the role of 'wanting a'?

14 Judge issued punishment verbally (4) FIND (~fined)

15 What's found in some sausages? (4) SAGE [T] Semi&lit

16 Bringing off the boil, begin clam stews (9) BECALMING*

20 Hearty piece of steak and drinks (8) CORDIALS {CORDIAL}{St..k}

21 Back-to-front Italian headgear worn by one in Gauguin's subject (6) TAHITI {IT}{1}{HAT}<=

23 Playing Castle (card game) (4-6) CATS-CRADLE {CASTLE+CARD}*

24 Perhaps Murdoch's integral to Blairism? (4) IRIS [T]

25 Honest type dated cameraman (6,7) SQUARE SHOOTER [DD]

DOWN

1   Implement argument over university city in California (7) SPATULA {SPAT}{U}{LA}

2   Jottings offering twisted attack (5) NOTES<=

3   Exceed a single in cricket after six balls (7) OVERRUN {RUN}<=>{OVER}

4   Cracks up and leaves a ship on 15th March? (6,4,5) SPLITS ONES SIDES {SPLITS}{ONE}{SS}{IDES}

5   Fleshy tissue and starter of escargots with the French bean (6) LEGUME {GUM}{Es...s}<=>{LE}

6   Losing time, ultimatums resolved, needing interdependence (9) MUTUALISM ULtIMATUMS*

7   Rector leaving, no drinks drunk, not slipping about (3-4) NON-SKID {NO+DrINKS}*

13 Converted Siam dough in Indian Ocean port (9) MOGADISHU*

15 Mottos without ... without function (7) SLOGANS {S{LOG}ANS}

17 Initially, arty Roaring Twenties design embracing chrome ornamentation! (3,4) ART DECO Acrostic &lit

18 Better-dressed nephew (not primarily shabbier) (7) NATTIER {N}{tATTIER} N/Nephew?

19 More above board with fewer clouds seen (6) FAIRER [DD]

22 One lacking faith not at bank job (5) HEIST atHEIST

Reference List

English = E, Knight = N, Northern = N, Italian = IT, University = U, Ship = SS, 15th of March = IDES, The in French = LE, Time = T, Rector = R