J.K. Rowling’s first novel under the name Robert Galbraith appeared in 2013.
The book was The Cuckoo’s Calling, the first novel about private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. It was initially presented as the work of an unknown former Royal Military Police investigator named Robert Galbraith.
The pseudonym allowed Rowling to enter crime fiction without immediately relying on the Harry Potter name. Reviews praised the novel’s plotting and detective-work elements before Rowling’s identity became public. After the revelation, sales increased sharply, and the series continued under the Galbraith name.
The novel’s title refers to Lula Landry, a model whose death is officially considered a suicide. Strike is hired to investigate the case, leading him through London’s celebrity and publishing circles. The book is separate from Rowling’s fantasy writing and established a long-running adult crime series.