Misleading surface of clue a game, shortly to be unravelled (10)
I believe the answer is:
camouflage
'misleading surface' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'of clue a game shortly to be unravelled' is the wordplay.
'shortly' means to remove the last letter.
'to be unravelled' indicates anagramming the letters.
'of'+'clue'+'a'+'game'='ofclueagame'
'ofclueagame' with its final letter removed is 'ofclueagam'.
'ofclueagam' with letters rearranged gives 'CAMOUFLAGE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for camouflage that I've seen before include "blind" , "Disguise (from enemy)" , "Method of blending in fine" , "Green and brown on a green and brown background, say?" , "Means of disguise" .)