Novel ending mercifully, maybe another starts? (4)
I believe the answer is:
emma
'novel' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'ending mercifully maybe another starts?' is the wordplay.
'starts?' says to take the initial letters (I've seen 'start' mean this).
The initial letters of 'ending mercifully maybe another' is 'EMMA'.
(Other definitions for emma that I've seen before include "Lady Hamilton or Lady Thompson?" , "Best Actress Oscar winner 1992, for 'Howard's End'" , "companion for Nelson" , "Novel by June Austen" , "book" .)