CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: NO. 28,556

Across

1 Money in US county (5) 4 Publication to catch is mesmerising at first – that’s attractive (9) 9 A comedian’s funny state (9) 10 Wear only down back? (3,2) 11 Expression of disgust, ghastly one (7) 12 Bird dog (7) 13 Devious game in mystery (6) 15 Bird looking to circle lake (8) 18 Leaders, band members hitting the high notes? (3,5) 20 Good variety for farm (6) 23 Extraordinary thing to achieve fifty in speeding down the motorway? (7) 24 Curious girl, ten, curl in hair (7) 26 Tot has a play (5) 27 Italian girl dancing on air after clue (9) 28 Vessel touring a river, large boat (9) 29 Scoundrel in heavy footwear, heading off (5)

Down

1 Stay with me, and do as you please (2,2,5)

2 They’re prickly characters initially before start of play? (5)

3 Pistol, say, raised in action, beginning to misfire (7)

4 Style in private house discussed? (6)

5 Success in Merlot, perhaps, offers lead for writer? (8)

6 More in play that’s absorbing for each in Julius Caesar, say? (7)

7 Perception of truth in instruction (9)

8 Subordinate underground worker, we hear? (5)

14 This person’s left with soldier leading (9) 16 Dog in Hamlet ? (5,4) 17 One who judges fools, so right (8)

19 Again, take 23 Across badly (7)

21 Bitterness flowed with boldness, age forgotten (7) 22 Continue to trail monster (6) 23 GP entering home, dictator! (5)

25 Telling stories in bed, perhaps? (5)