"Atonement" novelist McEwan (3)
I believe the answer is:
ian
'atonement novelist mcewan' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ian that I've seen before include "- McEwan, Eng. writer" , "Albert Beale's first name in EastEnders" , "Sir - McKellen, actor" , "The familar Dr Paisley" , "Scottish John" .)