Across
In which rook may fly to mate? (5,5)
One half of crime mystery (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
half of WHODUNIT (crime mystery) Had to look this one up and it still took me ages to parse!
Communication device beginning to malfunction on clapped-out Citroën (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
first letter of MALFUNCTION next to (on) anagram of (clapped-out) CITROËN One of the easier clues.
Exchange for notes and coins remains after banks in Elgin close as early as possible? (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ASH (remains) after first and last letters (banks) in ELGIN + first letter of (as early as possible?) CLOSE I suspected this answer but couldn’t make heads or tails (no pun intended) of the clue.
Thick rod in which nothing leaves dent (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
DIM (thick) POLE (rod) – (in which … leaves) O (nothing)
Repeatedly cut extra diamonds for vestment (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SURPLUS (extra) with last two letters removed (repeatedly cut) + ICE (diamonds) Another one that I was only able to parse after the fact.
Somehow he felt done in where going on would be futile (3,2,3,4)
Stage production of Dante's Inferno maybe put oneself at risk (4,4,4)
Classified ad covering second excursion that avoids island (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
AD around (covering) S (second) SORTIE (excursion) – (that avoids) I (island)
Moved to act after sons welled up (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
URGED (moved to act) after S (sons)
Old instrument with ridges mostly seen outside India (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
RIBBED (with ridges) without the last letter (mostly) around (seen outside) I (india)
Cycling laden, runs into marsh creature (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
rotate the letters in (cycling) FULL (laden) + R (runs) in (into) BOG (marsh)
Part of spectrum in glaze of certain pottery (4)
Work unexpectedly on the sly secures one way to get a buzz? (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
(unexpectedly) ON THE SLY around (secures) OP (work) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylophone. Looks cool! EDIT: I knew I’d seen this thing before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3p1Yxbp_y4
Down
Boarding houses confine children to keep quiet essentially (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PEN (confine) SONS (children) around (to keep) middle letter of (essentially) QUIET
Stopping for a smaller number of sheep (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
middle letters of (stopping for) FEWER (a smaller number of)
First hint of chest pain in store (5)
Turned out active men, working round ship in a group (2,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
first and last letters of (turned out) ACTIVE + MEN, anagrammed (working) around (round) SS (ship) Is this what ‘turned out’ means? I guess like if you dump out a garbage can.
Herb succeeded by saving a great deal of money (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
S (succeeded) PER (by) around (saving) A + MINT (great deal of money)
Undesirable decision amended under FO checks (8-3)
Wretched person belonging to religious faction (6)
Ridiculing band turning up repeatedly during middle of night (4-7)
Betrayer's characteristic concerning heads of Security Service (9)
Look of disapproval about withdrawn support capital (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
FROWN (look of disapproval) around (about) reversal of (withdrawn) TEE (support)
Dodgy dealer's extra float picked up (4,3)
Help mainly supported by one Umbrian town (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ASSIST (help) without the last letter (mainly) above (supported by) I (one)
Eastern European getting tummy upset over outburst (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SLAV (Eastern European) with middle letters switched (getting tummy upset) O (over)
Note female that amazes me (3)
Type letters or click words in the clue