What is the name of J.K. Rowling’s detective protagonist in the Strike novels?

J.K. Rowling’s detective protagonist in the Strike novels is Cormoran Strike.

Cormoran Strike is a private investigator and former military policeman. He first appears in The Cuckoo’s Calling, published in 2013 under Rowling’s pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Strike investigates the suspicious death of model Lula Landry in that opening mystery.

Strike’s professional and personal history shapes the series. He lost part of a leg while serving in Afghanistan and operates a detective agency in London. Robin Ellacott initially joins the agency as a temporary secretary, but she becomes central to the investigations and develops strong detective skills.

Cormoran is an uncommon name, and the character is sometimes confused with the actor or television adaptation associated with the role. The novels remain distinct from Rowling’s fantasy writing, using contemporary London crime investigations as their setting.