Cormoran Strike is J.K. Rowling’s detective fiction protagonist and a private investigator.
Rowling writes the Cormoran Strike novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Strike is a former military investigator who opens a private detective agency in London after leaving the Special Investigation Branch. His physical injuries and difficult personal history are recurring elements of the series.
The first novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling, was published in 2013 and initially credited to Robert Galbraith. The pseudonym was later revealed to be Rowling’s, creating substantial publicity for the book. Robin Ellacott, who begins as Strike’s temporary secretary, becomes his important investigative partner.
Cormoran Strike should not be confused with characters from Rowling’s Harry Potter books or with the television actor Tom Burke, who played Strike in the BBC adaptation. The novels are contemporary crime fiction rather than fantasy, and their cases generally focus on murder investigations in Britain.