Daily Express Quick Crossword

[gard-ener]

12a. Severe. Had astringent in but puts others out. ???R?N?E?T
15a. Informer. Had taleteller in but again don’t think it’s right. T?L???L?ER
Grateful for any help. Thanks.

[fiction-factory]

look okay especially last one. what ones does it throw out?

[Mamyalynne]

Where do they conflict with each other?

[gard-ener]

13d astuteness would be T?T?L?T?
and 16d settle would be L?I?H?
Thank you again.

[fiction-factory]

what did you have for settle- alight?

[Mamyalynne]

13 Subtlety ?

[fiction-factory]

Something looks odd about those patterns. I wonder if it's intellect and you have the pattern wrong

[Mamyalynne]

15 Talebearer?

[gard-ener]

Alight throws taleteller out. There would be an A in place of the 7th letter L.

[fiction-factory]

Where do the first letters T and L come from?

[fiction-factory]

Talebearer looks okay then

[Mamyalynne]

Are my replies helpful?

[fiction-factory]

We probably need to go through where each of your letters came from to complete this.
I'm finding this confusing- you originally said the 7th letter of 15A was L- so where was that from if you didn't have the answer to 16d?

[fiction-factory]

I'll look back later

[gard-ener]

Talebearer and subtlety - all solved. Many thanks everyone,

[Mamyalynne]

Glad to have helped a bit.