Tearing up racy Holmes novel (10)
I believe the answer is:
lachrymose
'tearing up racy holmes novel' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'racy holmes novel' is the wordplay.
'novel' is an anagram indicator (letters in a new or novel order).
'racy'+'holmes'='racyholmes'
'racyholmes' with letters rearranged gives 'LACHRYMOSE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lachrymose that I've seen before include "In bits" , "showing sorrow" , "Weepy" , "Sad" , "This is given to crying" .)