Under which pseudonym did J.K. Rowling publish her first crime novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling?

J.K. Rowling published her first crime novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling, under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

The novel appeared in April 2013 and introduced private detective Cormoran Strike and his temporary assistant, Robin Ellacott. Rowling chose a male-sounding pen name so the book could be judged without the immediate expectations attached to her Harry Potter fame.

The pseudonym was publicly revealed in July 2013 after an investigation by the Sunday Times identified Rowling as the author. Rowling later continued the series under the same name, although the books are now openly marketed as works by Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith.

Robert Galbraith is sometimes confused with Rowling’s legal surname or with a character from the novels. It is a professional pseudonym rather than a separate person who wrote the series.