The Old Swan by Jago

Puzzle explanation

The theme was the hunt for Agatha Christie, who disappeared in December 1926 and was eventually found staying at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate (where this year’s Listener Dinner took place on the day of this puzzle). The unclued 1ac was The Lady Vanishes and female forenames were omitted from some clue answers.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer (omitted name) Explanation
Across
11 PER(SIAN) (NAPIER + (bone)S) *
13 RESTRAINT RET around STRAIN
15 STARS TAR in SS
16 SKIDOO SKID + OO
18 DE(CORA)TIVE (ECO + RAT) in DIVE
20 DETERS T(ortoise) in DEER + S(pring)
21 EMEER ’EM + E’ER
23 CUSS (per)CUSS(ion)
25 INCA IN + CA
27 VAULT (pole) VAULT
31 STATIC TAT in SIC
33 ORATOR OPERATOR − PE
34 GR(ADA)TORY GRADE-A + TORY − E
36 TREFA (pu)TREFA(ction)
37 SCARE AWAY SCAR + EA + WAY
38 GRE(NADINE) (IN GARDEN) * + E(den)
39 RHODE ISLAND REDS (LAD’S RIDDEN HORSE) *
Down
1 (SUE)T PUDDING (SUPER DUET IN G + D − ER) *
2 HEREON HERON around E(gg)
3 LITIGATOR TAILOR * around GIT <
4 AGAVE A + GAVE
5 DO-RE-MI OLD-TIMER * = (DO-RE-MI + T + L) *
6 VELD (dea)D-LEV(el) <
7 ASPER(GILL)US ((th)E + SUGAR PILLS) *
8 IRKED I + RAKED − (embarr)A(ssment)
9 HID (ap)HID(s)
10 ENOW (W + ONE) <
12 R(EVE)STS REVS around (E + ST)
14 AIRCRAFT-(CARRIE)R 2 meanings
17 OBSERVES OB + SERVES
19 REVIEWS RE + VIEWS
22 FLORIN F + L(ead) + IRON *
24 S(KATE)BOARD BASKET * + (A ROD) *
26 SAREE (E + ERAS) <
28 TREP(ANNE)D (ENRAPT END) *
29 STAG GATS <
30 ARCH ARCH(itecture)
32 COAL CO + AL
35 TAO OAT <
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