Idolmaker

In Japan, an idol isn't exactly what you might think, or maybe it is: an idol is a bigtime pop star. These stars are recruited by a promoter during their teen years and developed into money machines over a long period of time. As you might guess, an idol's life isn't much like yours or mine.

If you're a mystery fan, or you're interested in the less-known byways of Japanese life, or, best of all, if you're both, you are sure to enjoy my friend Jonelle Patrick's Only in Tokyo mystery series. I blogged publication of Nightshade, the first book in the series, last year, and cleverly forgot to blog the publication of the second, Fallen Angel.

Now the third book, Idolmaker, is out. If you're still on tenterhooks from the ending of Fallen Angel, well, pull out the e-reader right now. If you're not, I urge you to pick up Nightshade and can promise that when you finish it, you'll want to read the second and third books too.

If you don't have an e-reader, you can still buy the Only in Tokyo books by installing the Kindle or Kobo app on your computer, phone, or tablet.