What does the cryptic crossword clue "Popular fiction genre has us on tenterhooks (2,8)" mean?

The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). IN (synonym="popular") + SUSPENSE (synonym="genre") = INSUSPENSE The answer is INSUSPENSE.

Popular fiction genre has us on tenterhooks (2,8)

Guardian Cryptic #29644 | 2 Down | 2025-03-17 flower