No 14313, Thursday 24 Oct 2024, Dr. X

Solution to 9D 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Struggles to secure cheap flats (4-4) BLOW-OUTS {B{LOW}OUTS}

5   Flight in space circulating Earth (6) ESCAPE {SPACE*}{E}

10 Not very hazy around river, have a row (5) ARGUE {vA{R}GUE}

11 Passionately intimate inside island retreat (2,7) IN EARNEST {I}{NEAR}{NEST}

12 Denounced heartless man involved in criminal act (9) CONDEMNED M(-a)N in {CON DEED}

13 One observing constituent wanting victory for nationalist (5) NOTER (-v+n)NOTER

14 Lead character in suspense film is murderer (6) SLAYER {Su...e}{LAYER}

15 Wet items on ground (7) MOISTEN*

18 Bone in grave starting to unnerve maiden (7) STERNUM {STERN}{Un...e}{M}

20 Animal in Gujarat, mostly wild (6) JAGUAR GUJARAt*

22 Utensil guy brought back contains fruits (5) UGLIS [T<=]

24 Promoted broadcast on Rushdie (9) NOURISHED*

25 Harassed husband dreading fights (3-6) HAG-RIDDEN {H}{DREADING*}

26 Remain in bed long, indulge on vacation? Getting excited! (3,2) LIE UP {L}{In...gE}{UP} 

27 Most annoyed - therefore, relax (6) SOREST {SO}{REST}

28 Bladder infection resulting from spasticity leaving father distressed (8) CYSTITIS SpaSTICITY*

DOWN

1   Become pale in bar after consuming line with cocaine and heroin (6) BLANCH {B{L}AN}{C}{H}

2   Specialised part of cell in egg allergen analysed (9) ORGANELLE {O}{ALLERGEN*}

3   Where chapstick maker hopes to see his product being discussed by many (2,9,4) ON EVERYONES LIPS [C&DD]

4   Finally publish secret behind model becoming slimmer (7) THINNER {p...sH}{INNER}<=>{T}

6   Shy person invites hot girl on trip after drinking bit of Kahlua (9,6) SHRINKING VIOLET  {INVITES+H+GIRL+ON}* over {Ka...a}

7   Data stolen by extremely adept spy (5) AGENT {Ade{GEN}pT}

8   Recording new teen band (8) ENTERING {TEEN*}{RING}

9   Occasionally spies around to gather bit of data (6) ?E?D?M (Addendum - SELDOM {MO{Data}LES<=} - See comments)

16 Most shoddy investigation about outbreak on island (9) TRASHIEST {T{RASH}{I}EST}

17 Although married, such a rogue - extremely amorous (2,4,2) AS MUCH AS {M+SUCH+A}*{Am...uS}

19 Knight in gloomy ode sung by soloist (6) MONODY {MO{N}ODY}

20 Flight leaving Thailand for Japanese sporting event (7) JOURNEY (-t+j)JOURNEY

21 Chooses American studs to entertain princess at inauguration (6) ADOPTS {A}{DO{Pr...s}TS}

23 Runs after bear with European brand of pistol (5) LUGER {R}<=>{LUG}{E}

Reference List

Earth = E, Very = V, River = R, Island = I, Man = M, Victory = V, Nationalist = N, Maiden = M, Husband = H, Long = L, Line = L, Cocaine = C, Heroin = H, Model = T, Hot = H, Married = M. Knight = N, Thailand = T, Japanese = J, American = A, Runs = R, European = E