Cryptic crossword No 329

Many thanks to Blah for test solving and providing invaluable feedback that helped me improve several clues. One of his observations was that this is harder than my usual level - not deliberately so, just the way the clues came out, though I admit to using more obscure definitions than usual - the rubric note is by way of pre-empting complaints about 19d! Spoilers in reply.

Superb crossword which would not be out of place in a national newspaper. Lots of imaginative clues, amusing misdirection and clear surfaces. Just picking a few good ones at random, I liked 10a, 14a, 24a, 13d and 16d but they were all good!

Beautifully precise clueing throughout, widders, and a delightful range of devices and misdirections. And you know, I think, I put great store by good surfaces; they are in abundance here. Rare for a 3-letter to be COTD but 23a gets it for surface and clueing - inspired. Other faves - I could nominate anything really - include 1a, 12a, 14a, 28a, 4d, 13d, 17d, 18d. SPOILERS IN REPLY.

Great puzzle! Just about everything is beautifully fluent and deftly disguised. Top faves are 1a, 6a, 9a, 23a, 26a, 13d, 18d, 20d, 25d; I'd be pretty pleased to have come up with most of the rest too. There are of course nits to pick...

This was tricky, but not hideously so! I especially enjoyed 5d, and 26a (which took me *far* too long to get, just one of those...). No quibbles with the definition in 20a, nor with 19d, which was fairly clued.

Super stuff widdersbel - well done! Tough for me, particularly the lower half, but so many excellent clues with amusing surfaces, clever wordplay and well disguised definitions. If I had to pick favourites: 6A, 14A, 23A, 26A, 1D, 5D, 17D and 18D

Agree with other feedback that this is an admirable compilation. I especially appreciated 6a, 14a, 23a(!), & 26a among others. Some a bit tough, or obscure, but most solvable with a bit of head scratching. Good stuff! A little more in reply.

Took me a long time and several goes but I got there in the end. Hope my perseverance indicates that this is not a complaint - I really enjoyed it: challenging but fun and clever. SE corner was the last in but when I got one the others suddenly became clear one after the other even if I couldn’t quite understand 19&20d without your notes. Favourite clues were 21d and 23a - lovely surfaces and provided long-awaited moments of clarity. All round excellent and varied clueing. Thank you

Doubtless it's me, but I don't understand the first bit of 15a. The wordplay for 23a is really ingenious and I agree with those who say that for the clue to a three-letter word to be a stand-out favourite is really something. Other particular likes were 1d and 6d (another 3-letter clue!). Tough - took going back to it several times before I finished it - but fair, enjoyable, and an impressive piece of work.

Widdersbel this was fantastic. A friend visited last week and brought a copy of the Times - that crossword was fine and also featured a single 4-letter obscurity in the wordplay, but I enjoyed your puzzle much more. I will try to reply to this post with specific clue comments to avoid spoilers.