Across
A big book hotel's kept in reception (2,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
definition: ‘at home’ means to be ready to receive and welcome visitors, or an ‘at-home’ is a reception held in someone’s home A + TOME=”big book”, with H (hotel, NATO alphabet) kept inside
Plant is better with strange music (8)
Anticipate old lover wanting to get kissed audibly (6)
Gathers together in a cold island needing sun (8)
Be a squatter with determination? (3,2,9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
“determination” to be read as ‘judicial decision’ rather than ‘strength of will’ squat=sit, or possibly to squat / “Be a squatter” and to ‘sit in’ can be methods of protest by occupying buildings
The fighting force first needing soldiers to get electronic device (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
definition: a thermistor is an electrical component, a resistor with resistance that varies with temperature THE (from surface) + RM (Royal Marines, “fighting force”) + I ST (1 st , “first”) + OR (other ranks, “soldiers”)
Contemptible person lots backed (4)
Like old parliament game joined by politician (4)
When nicest old girl gets nasty disease (10)
Be upset with semi-meltdown – it means someone's gutted (14)
English campaign – there's an issue (8)
Had to rush around tree plantations (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
definition: a new word to me – Chambers defines PINETA as a collection of pine tree s ATE=”Had” + NIP=”rush”; all reversed/”around”
Poles, see, at infrequent intervals (8)
City's philosopher and songwriter (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Berlin in Germany; Isaiah Berlin the philosopher [wiki] ; Irving Berlin the songwriter [wiki]
Down
Murder victim in noisy situation, first off (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
B ABEL=scene of loud confusion=”noisy situation”, with the first letter taken off
Old soldier's aspiration, inflamed within (7)
Masculinity of Scot, having his moment (8)
Choir ceased working in province (11)
Second religious summary, a lengthy read (6)
Instrument hit accidentally in research establishment (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
definition: a Renaissance stringed instrument anagram/”accidentally” of (hit)*, inside CERN=the nuclear “research establishment” in Geneva [wiki]
Wrongly says country will be involved in failure (9)
'Fair Earth' will come with intervention of leading protest group (4,4,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
JUST=”Fair” + SOIL=”Earth”, with TOP=”leading” intervening inside
Dissenter suffering from fatigue (9)
Cat in agony given drug, a chemical compound (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
TOM=”Cat” in PAIN=”agony”; plus E (ecstasy, “drug”)
The writer on ship in a port (7)
Fish? Sarah's caught any number by river (4,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
SAL=short form of “Sarah”; around/catching N (variable in maths, any number) + DEE=UK “river”
Eastern muck – I kept being sick (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
E (Eastern) + MESS=”muck”, with I (from surface) kept inside
Prison housing one murderer (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
CAN=slang for “Prison” around I=”one”
Type letters or click words in the clue