Novel object of obsession by detective beset by ridicule (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
moby dick
'novel' is the definition.
(I know that Moby-Dick form of creative work novel)
'by detective beset by ridicule' is the wordplay.
'detective' becomes 'di' (Detective Inspector abbreviation).
'beset by' is an insertion indicator ('beset' could historically mean 'cover').
'ridicule' becomes 'mock' (I've seen this in another clue).
'by'+'di'='bydi'
'bydi' inserted inside 'mock' is 'MOBY-DICK'.
'object of obsession' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for moby dick that I've seen before include "Book by Herman Melville" , "Beast in book" , "Herman Melville's great novel of the White Whale" , "work by American" .)