CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Doubtful about quiet son able to change into it (12)

8. Some trio with the potential to give engine power to it (8)

9. Bar where, to some extent, the bitter flows backwards (4)

11. Is in good time to organise the relay (5)

12. Lose hope of getting praised for it (7)

13. Be listless about a work of music, me? (4)

15. Bird that sounds as if it might get stuck into meat (4)

19. Is not one nor the other of three in a muddle (7)

20. Essayist brought home by a breadwinner (5)

22. It’s tidy, the way native leader will take his meal (4)

23. Dislike varies, perhaps, but there’s no comeback (8)

24. Jumbo sale organised by this denizen of the deep (8,4)

DOWN

2. The complete way to give voice to something (5)

3. As they’ve wandered off, the SAS try to sort them out (6)

4. Is doing time in a team (6)

5. To cheer ironically at the legal profession is torture (7)

6. It may be amusing, having people in one’s home for a meal (12)

7. Mean men price it differently if it’s of transitory quality (12)

10. Invite one to pose a question (3)

14. Top man in church is an ape (7)

16. How bashful is Aunt Sally? (3)

17. Giving carbon to a bird is cowardly (6)

18. One Serb could hold about one candytuft (6)

21. Sort of tea plate for a mate (5)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION: Across 1. Stitch 8. Trail 9. Consult 11. Delicate

12. Snack 15. Loss 16. Wig 17. Easy 19. Singe 21. Respects 24. Enliven

25. Swell 26. Winter

Down 2. Thorn 3. Test-case 4. Hold 5. Strip 6. Maya 7. Blue 10. Terminate

12. Sale 13. Sedition 14. Lyre 18. Belly 20. Geese 21. Rust 22. Stew

23. Snow