What do you think?
Rate this book
Nakamura Detective Agency #1
Fallen Idol: A Kyoko Nakamura Mystery
Is it suicide...or murder? When a disgraced former pop star plummets to her death from her Osaka apartment, all signs paint a picture of a troubled young woman who took her own life. But once her parents hire Kyoko Nakamura to learn the truth, the private detective discovers not everything is as it seems. Kyoko’s investigation will lead her into a world of drugs and prostitution, face to face with dangerous criminals, and through the seedy underbelly of Japan’s music industry. With all odds against her, can Kyoko redeem herself for a past failure by finding justice for a fallen idol? From Percival Constantine comes a thrilling new mystery series, set in one of the world's most intriguing locales! "Fallen Idol is a very good start to a promising series revolving around the private detective agency of Kyoko Nakamura. As a mystery book, it kept me guessing about the actual culprit, and had more than one twist in its arc. But what makes this book really great are the characters and the vivid descriptions of their life. I heartily recommend it." - Mike Omer, author of A Killer's Mind Murder Walk, the next Kyoko Nakamura mystery, is now available!
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2016
15 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Percival Constantine
95 books72 followersBorn and raised in the Chicagoland area, Percival Constantine grew up on a fairly consistent diet of superhero comics, action movies, video games, and TV shows. At the age of ten, he first began writing and has never really stopped.
Percival has been working in publishing since 2005 in various capacities--author, editor, formatter, letterer--and has written books, short stories, comics, and more. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Mass Media from Northeastern Illinois University and a Master of Arts in English and Screenwriting from Southern New Hampshire University.
Currently, Percival lives in southern Japan where he continues to work on new projects and also teaches literature, writing, and film.
You can find him online at PercivalConstantine.com and connect with him on Twitter (@perconstantine) and Facebook (Facebook.com/PercivalConstantine).
Percival has been working in publishing since 2005 in various capacities--author, editor, formatter, letterer--and has written books, short stories, comics, and more. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Mass Media from Northeastern Illinois University and a Master of Arts in English and Screenwriting from Southern New Hampshire University.
Currently, Percival lives in southern Japan where he continues to work on new projects and also teaches literature, writing, and film.
You can find him online at PercivalConstantine.com and connect with him on Twitter (@perconstantine) and Facebook (Facebook.com/PercivalConstantine).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 18, 2020
A mystery that feels like real life
I came to “Fallen Idol” after reading several of the author’s “Luther Cross” novels, and I was impressed by many aspects of this book. The city of Osaka is very well evoked - I live in Tokyo so I don't know how authentic this story is, but it certainly feels right.
The MCs are Kyoko Nakamura of the eponymous detective agency, and her employees Saori Ikeda and Nobu. They’re investigating the death of Akane Suzuki, pop idol formerly of the band Koibito, to find whether it was suicide, or murder. This is a highly topical issue in the wake of the many real-life suicides in the K-Pop ‘idol’ scene, exposing the industry as the soul-crushing, mind-numbing, money-grubbing swamp it really is. As such, Nakamura’s digging into the affairs of the fictional Star Rise Entertainment and the creepy middle-aged men that try to dominate the young girls hoping to make a name for themselves in pop music has the ring of truth.
In fact, this book has the atmosphere of well-informed realism from first page to last. Nakamura’s team use Line, Facebook, and Twitter in their investigation, discuss it over lunch at kaitensushis, and generally act like real people. Even the climax, which is certainly thrilling, stays realistic and does not fly off into the realms of fantasy or cliche.
Like I said, and as in all of Constantine’s books, the characters are fully fleshed out and three dimensional. We learn about their misguided motivations and the circumstances that brought them into our story. Kyoko Nakamura herself, being the title character, is revealed as being driven by guilt because of a tragic incident in her past.
These are constant reminders that Constantine is a strong writer who is not limited to Urban Fantasy. This is a good read with the feel of a police procedural novel, and as such there is much to enjoy.
I came to “Fallen Idol” after reading several of the author’s “Luther Cross” novels, and I was impressed by many aspects of this book. The city of Osaka is very well evoked - I live in Tokyo so I don't know how authentic this story is, but it certainly feels right.
The MCs are Kyoko Nakamura of the eponymous detective agency, and her employees Saori Ikeda and Nobu. They’re investigating the death of Akane Suzuki, pop idol formerly of the band Koibito, to find whether it was suicide, or murder. This is a highly topical issue in the wake of the many real-life suicides in the K-Pop ‘idol’ scene, exposing the industry as the soul-crushing, mind-numbing, money-grubbing swamp it really is. As such, Nakamura’s digging into the affairs of the fictional Star Rise Entertainment and the creepy middle-aged men that try to dominate the young girls hoping to make a name for themselves in pop music has the ring of truth.
In fact, this book has the atmosphere of well-informed realism from first page to last. Nakamura’s team use Line, Facebook, and Twitter in their investigation, discuss it over lunch at kaitensushis, and generally act like real people. Even the climax, which is certainly thrilling, stays realistic and does not fly off into the realms of fantasy or cliche.
Like I said, and as in all of Constantine’s books, the characters are fully fleshed out and three dimensional. We learn about their misguided motivations and the circumstances that brought them into our story. Kyoko Nakamura herself, being the title character, is revealed as being driven by guilt because of a tragic incident in her past.
These are constant reminders that Constantine is a strong writer who is not limited to Urban Fantasy. This is a good read with the feel of a police procedural novel, and as such there is much to enjoy.
July 1, 2017
Enjoyed the book. I listened until all the way to the end because I really wanted to know who killed the idol. The fact that it held my attention speaks to the writer's ability to engage and entertain. Most audio books don't have that quality.
The one part that I didn't like was the narrator. The narrator sounded at times like a robot and mispronounced the Japanese words. It wouldn't bother most people, but I found it a bit irritating -- however, not enough to stop listening.
Please note that I received this title for free in exchange for an unbiased review
The one part that I didn't like was the narrator. The narrator sounded at times like a robot and mispronounced the Japanese words. It wouldn't bother most people, but I found it a bit irritating -- however, not enough to stop listening.
Please note that I received this title for free in exchange for an unbiased review
August 8, 2017
Death in Japan.
Fallen Idol was a crime mystery set in Japan, and I was hoping for a bit more of a feel for Japanese life. There was a fair bit of bowing and reference to items like tatami mats, but otherwise it could have happened pretty much anywhere. The low-life and hostess bars were certainly not unique.
I was offered this as an audiobook for review from Audiobook Boom and I enjoyed the narration by Andrea Harbin, though it could have been a little faster.
I struggled with the Japanese names at first and I have to admit that they are going to make this review difficult as I have no idea how to spell them.
Arkanay Suzuki is a former pop idol who falls from her balcony in the first scene. The police label her death as suicide and prepare to close the case, but Kyoko Nakamura is approached by Arkanay's parents to look into the circumstances of their daughter's death. Kyoko was a police officer until she left the force in disgrace and she is now running a detective agency with her two colleagues.
Together they follow clues, chase suspects and generally put themselves in danger, to solve the mystery of Arkanay's death.
The ending was disappointing and I think I was all set to give 4 stars until the last few minutes; the mystery is solved but is justice served?
3 1/2 stars.
Fallen Idol was a crime mystery set in Japan, and I was hoping for a bit more of a feel for Japanese life. There was a fair bit of bowing and reference to items like tatami mats, but otherwise it could have happened pretty much anywhere. The low-life and hostess bars were certainly not unique.
I was offered this as an audiobook for review from Audiobook Boom and I enjoyed the narration by Andrea Harbin, though it could have been a little faster.
I struggled with the Japanese names at first and I have to admit that they are going to make this review difficult as I have no idea how to spell them.
Arkanay Suzuki is a former pop idol who falls from her balcony in the first scene. The police label her death as suicide and prepare to close the case, but Kyoko Nakamura is approached by Arkanay's parents to look into the circumstances of their daughter's death. Kyoko was a police officer until she left the force in disgrace and she is now running a detective agency with her two colleagues.
Together they follow clues, chase suspects and generally put themselves in danger, to solve the mystery of Arkanay's death.
The ending was disappointing and I think I was all set to give 4 stars until the last few minutes; the mystery is solved but is justice served?
3 1/2 stars.
June 27, 2017
This is a book about a fallen Japanese pop idol that dies. Her case is taken on by a private investigator who is trying to figure out what really happened.
The characters are well developed and likable. I have not read books based in Japan so hearing about ideas and places there was interesting to me.
The author did a good job at keeping me guessing how this mystery was going to end, I changed my mind several time throughout the book. I look forward to reading more of her stories!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The characters are well developed and likable. I have not read books based in Japan so hearing about ideas and places there was interesting to me.
The author did a good job at keeping me guessing how this mystery was going to end, I changed my mind several time throughout the book. I look forward to reading more of her stories!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 25, 2018
The audiobook of this story is amazing, its twisted and full of secrets, I honestly love the singing we get at the start and bit of japanese that is in this book.
All the women are strong and it shows a lot about the underworld and the cost of stardom. I felt the ending was a bit shocking but also not how I thought it would end.
This story is amazing and so worth the rea, and I am so happy I got the chance to read it, and can not wait to check out more from the series.
I got a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
All the women are strong and it shows a lot about the underworld and the cost of stardom. I felt the ending was a bit shocking but also not how I thought it would end.
This story is amazing and so worth the rea, and I am so happy I got the chance to read it, and can not wait to check out more from the series.
I got a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
April 26, 2020
Great read
Ex cop turned private eye in Japan. Percival has a unique way of bringing mystery, crime and Japanese customs together which makes Nakamura detective agency books a fun read. Keep writing!
Ex cop turned private eye in Japan. Percival has a unique way of bringing mystery, crime and Japanese customs together which makes Nakamura detective agency books a fun read. Keep writing!
February 20, 2023
I could rate this book for 5 star, but the ending literally crashed it all. I love the main plot and everything but I just hate the ending.
January 3, 2017
Fallen Idol is a wonderful story about a Japanese pop idol who has fallen from grace. Trying to make ends meet, she turns to a world of sex for money to pay her rent and drugs and alcohol just to make it through the day. But she has managed to over-indulge and fall to her death from her balcony. Was it suicide? Or was she pushed? Or was it accidental from the drugs and alcohol?
A former female police officer is now working as a private investigator, when the pop idol's parent come to request her services. They don't know much of what she has recently been involved in, and they don't want to settle on the suicide ruling that the local law enforcement were labeling their daughter's death.
The story is about friendship, loyalty, and jealousy. And it held my attention from the very first page right to the very last page. A very good read.
I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.
A former female police officer is now working as a private investigator, when the pop idol's parent come to request her services. They don't know much of what she has recently been involved in, and they don't want to settle on the suicide ruling that the local law enforcement were labeling their daughter's death.
The story is about friendship, loyalty, and jealousy. And it held my attention from the very first page right to the very last page. A very good read.
I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.
February 6, 2017
PI story set in Osaka. Quite a good story with interesting Japanese background
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews