What is the pseudonym J.K. Rowling uses for her crime novels?

The pseudonym J.K. Rowling uses for her crime novels is Robert Galbraith.

Rowling adopted the name for The Cuckoo’s Calling, published in 2013, the first novel in the Cormoran Strike detective series. The book was initially presented as the work of a previously unknown author, allowing Rowling to write crime fiction without the enormous expectations attached to the Harry Potter name.

The pseudonym became public after a Sunday Times investigation revealed Rowling’s identity. Her agent confirmed the connection, and sales of The Cuckoo’s Calling rose sharply after the news. Rowling said “Robert” was inspired partly by Robert F. Kennedy, while “Galbraith” came from a childhood name she had invented.

Robert Galbraith is the author name used on the series, but the books’ real author is Rowling. Cormoran Strike is not a pseudonym: he is the fictional private detective at the center of the novels. The series also features Robin Ellacott and has been adapted into the BBC television programme Strike.