The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word BLOW-BY-BLOW
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
B
L
O
W
-
B
Y
-
B
L
O
W
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "recounted in detail" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case recounted in detail = blow-by-blow.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BLOW-BY-BLOW mean?
BLOW-BY-BLOW noun- An account, description, or commentary including every detail of the action or event.
- Detailing every action or occurrence completely.