FICTION: Fiona Wright THE CRYPTIC: Mungo MacCallum

ACROSS

1. They hold the money, but they sound a bit crook! (7)

5. Sailor thrashes clan totems (7) 9. Howl, relict keeps new oriel (3,6)

10. Short offering for the barrister (5)

11. At sixteen, nuisance involves boredom (5)

12. Songbird urges on flowers (9) 13. Mum or dad with renovated chalet over Italy – apart from the main communication! (13) 17. Applies tuition carelessly so I left – but he famously washed his hands! (7,6)

21. Changes descriptions – left English penalties (9)

24. Imitate as new (5)

25. Fossilised gum – slow down! (5)

26. Former partner, one to assess – and forgive (9)

27. Account of the past – that man’s a conservative! (7)

28. Sat term examination – it’s important (7)

DOWN

1. Taxi went ahead and sent an urgent message (6) 2. Over-inquisitive aficionado, chided Spooner of the cooking implement (6,3)

3. McGuire, shoot, said a man who makes things plain (7) 4. They’re incidental issues, but they control sporting fields (9) 5. He drags a tall building (5) 6. Aerospace surveillance unit to steal a vast Australian territory (7)

7. Goodbye to Australian–French deity (5)

8. Non-aggressive marketing mentioning comfortable monastic accommodation

(4,4)

14. Wild mirth, also wild weather (9)

15. Correct, partner – it’s all over (9)

16. Draw near a very quiet bug (8) 18. Hell, assume a negative (7) 19. Beer intended, they said, but it’s an illness (7)

20. Gets the message, reported wearing sables perhaps (6) 22. Smalltime resting place up and owing (5)

23. It’s about the joint, we’re told: broke! (5)