"The Surgeon" author Gerritsen (4)
I believe the answer is:
tess
'the surgeon author gerritsen' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for tess that I've seen before include "'Justice' finally done on her (Hardy)" , "- of the d'Urbevilles (Hardy)" , "Thomas Hardy girl" , "Hardy female" , "Lady" .)