What is J.K. Rowling’s pen name for the Cormoran Strike crime novels?

J.K. Rowling’s pen name for the Cormoran Strike crime novels is Robert Galbraith.

Rowling used the pseudonym when The Cuckoo’s Calling was published in 2013. The novel introduced Cormoran Strike, a private detective, and Robin Ellacott, his secretary and eventual investigative partner. The pseudonym initially concealed Rowling’s identity from the public.

The name was not chosen randomly. Rowling said “Robert” reflected Robert F. Kennedy, while “Galbraith” was connected with a personal association. The book received positive reviews before newspapers identified its author through linguistic analysis and other investigative work.

After the revelation, later Strike novels were marketed openly as works by Robert Galbraith, with J.K. Rowling acknowledged as the author. The series includes The Silkworm, Career of Evil, Lethal White, Troubled Blood, The Ink Black Heart, and The Running Grave.