Interview with Rima Ray, Author of Death of an Idol

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Death of an Idol?

Death of an Idol began with a single haunting image: a young woman falling from a cliff beneath a cobalt Jeju sky, betrayed by someone she trusted. That image stayed with me. I wanted to explore the collision between fame and trauma, and what it means to be truly seen in a world built on masks. The inspiration came from my love of psychological thrillers, my curiosity about the darker side of the K-pop and entertainment industry, and my desire to tell a story weaving obsession, grief, and identity into something both suspenseful and intimate. Tae’s journey—from idol to professor to accidental detective—felt like the perfect vehicle for that exploration.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Death of an Idol, what would they be?

Tae’s playlist includes “Red Lights” by Stray Kids—which is literally featured in the book—sultry, obsessive, and dangerous. Also on the list is “Where Am I” by Cha Eunwoo, another track featured in the story. In fact, the character of Tae was inspired by the South Korean actor and K-pop idol Cha Eunwoo.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Yes and no. I’m obsessed with psychological thrillers and mysteries—anything by Agatha Christie, Val McDermid, Freida McFadden, or Gillian Flynn has me hooked. But I also devour literary fiction, especially books that blend beautiful prose with emotional depth—authors like Celeste Ng, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Hanya Yanagihara. I love writing thrillers but always aim for a voice that’s poetic and introspective, even amid the suspense. I want the atmosphere to linger.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Teacher by Freida McFadden, A Darker Domain by Val McDermid, The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong, and Death in Tokyo by Keigo Higashino.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The scene with Nari and her parents in the car gave me chills just imagining it. For readers, you’ll know what I mean when you get to it. The visuals, the stillness, the slow reveal—it was all incredibly cinematic in my head.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I need some matcha milk tea or coffee to sip on. My cats occasionally jump onto my table to get pets and inevitably press the keyboard, adding a line or two.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

A motto I live by comes from a Michael Jackson song: “Keep on with force—don’t stop. Don’t stop ‘til you get enough.” It sums up my approach to life—it’s about wanting everything I can get out of it while I’m here. Call it ambition or just plain greed for experience, but I don’t believe in holding back.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Grief isn’t linear, love isn’t always pure, and sometimes the most dangerous people are the ones who love you the most.

Rima Ray is the author of the new book Death of an Idol

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