Top Italian novelist died in resort area south of Boston
I believe the answer is:
cape cod
'resort area south of boston' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'top italian novelist died' is the wordplay.
'top' becomes 'cap' (cap is a kind of top).
'italian novelist' becomes 'eco' (I've seen this in other clues).
'died' becomes 'd'.
'cap'+'eco'+'d'='CAPE COD'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cape cod that I've seen before include "Peninsula in Massachusetts" , "Popular holiday destination for Bostonians" , "New England promontory" , "Headgear" , "part of New England?" .)