I usually strive to make my puzzles transatlantic, but a couple of Britishisms have crept into this one. US solvers: the answer to 23A is a British spelling, and 16D employs a definition based on British English usage.
Solvers! Thanks for trying my puzzle, I do hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a comment to let me know... and also, if you felt there was room for improvement, don't be afraid to say so (it's the only way I'll get any better, after all.)
Sometimes the clues come easy, sometimes they don't... Some of these were unexpectedly tricky to clue. Here are my explanations for the perplexed & curious:
ACROSS
1A. cook = FRY, around anag. ZEN.4A. firearm = REVOLVER; subtract rights = Rs.9A. hidden in beneaTH UMBrella.10A. reversal of box office = BO + against = V (versus) + debts = IOUS.11A. managed = RAN, to fire = SACK.12A. tell porkies = LIE, around English = E + good = G.13A. mental blocks = INHIBITIONS, switching trendy = IN for no-longer = EX.18A. imprecise = UNCLEAR, incomplete.20A. anag. LACIEST.22A. writer = PEN, couple of guests = GU, at home = IN.23A. nothing = I, grim = DOUR.24A. judge = REF, around false statement = LIE.
DOWN
1D. Cryptic(-ish) definition.2D. horsey = EQUINE, not finished; bull = OX.3D. hidden reversed in angulAR BEZel.5D. 6 = VI + 5 = V + anag. LAID.6D. shake off = LOSE around one's head = O.7D. last primrose = E, Michaelmas daisy = ASTER.8D. anag. HASELONIRONEDKINK.14D. double definition.15D. after tax = NET, duty = WORK.16D. double definition.17D. senior = SR around bit of apple = CORE.19D. container = CAN, one = A, litre = L.21D. machine learning = AI, reversal of look = LO, tuber = I.