He walked away from the spotlight. But some secrets and shadows don't fade… they follow.

A gripping and addictive psychological thriller set in Korea's glittering and glamorous K-pop industry—from Reader's Digest and Amazon #1 bestselling Asian American author Rima Ray.

Once the face of Orion—one of South Korea’s most beloved K-pop groups—Tae (Park Taejoon) vanished from the public eye five years ago after the tragic death of Mino, the group’s lyricist. Found dead at twenty-five, Mino's fall from his apartment building in Gangnam was ruled a suicide. No note. No witnesses.

Now a reclusive PhD student in Pittsburgh, Tae spends his days in anonymity—until the second death of someone he loves shatters his world again. This time on Jeju Island. Authorities say it was an accident. But he knows it wasn't.

Haunted by two deaths and driven by guilt, Tae returns to Seoul and teams up with Yoon Hana—a relentless former detective and one of the few who still believes him. Together they begin to unravel the threads that may connect the two deaths. As the facade of fame begins to crack, secrets rise, obsessions awaken, and Tae finds himself entangled in a web more intimate—and more dangerous—than he ever imagined.

A psychological thriller in two parts, Death of an Idol explores the cost of celebrity, the weight of grief, and the terrifying hunger to be loved… at any cost.

Perfect for fans of Stray Kids, BTS, BLACKPINK, EXO, psychological thrillers of Freida McFadden and dark K-dramas like Flower of Evil and You .