Crossword Genius

Unexpected if tortuous novel (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fortuitous

'unexpected' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'if tortuous novel' is the wordplay.
'novel' indicates anagramming the letters.
'if'+'tortuous'='iftortuous'
'iftortuous' anagrammed gives 'FORTUITOUS'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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