Masterminded in Greene novel about popular writer (10)
I believe the answer is:
engineered
'masterminded' is the definition.
('engineer' can be a synonym of 'mastermind')
'greene novel about popular writer' is the wordplay.
'novel' indicates anagramming the letters.
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'popular' becomes 'in'.
'writer' becomes 'ed' (I've seen this in other clues**).
'greene' with letters rearranged gives 'engeer'.
'engeer' enclosing 'in' is 'engineer'.
'engineer'+'ed'='ENGINEERED'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for engineered that I've seen before include "GM perhaps?" , "genetically enhanced, perhaps?" .)