Murdoch maybe in ruins, oddly (4)
I believe the answer is:
iris
'murdoch' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'in ruins oddly' is the wordplay.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
'in'+'ruins'='inruins'
The alternate letters of 'inruins' are 'IRIS'.
'maybe' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for iris that I've seen before include "Coloured part of the lamp" , "Flower - rainbow" , "Lily" , "--- Murdoch, author" , "A flower; spirit conjured in Tempest" .)