What pen name did J.K. Rowling use when publishing her Cormoran Strike crime novels?

J.K. Rowling used the pen name Robert Galbraith when publishing her Cormoran Strike crime novels.

The pseudonym was first used for The Cuckoo’s Calling, published in 2013. Rowling wanted to write crime fiction without the immediate expectations attached to her name after Harry Potter. The book’s author was initially presented as a former military police officer named Robert Galbraith.

The secret did not last. A Sunday Times investigation identified Rowling as the writer, and the revelation was widely reported. Later Strike books continued to appear under the Galbraith name, making it part of the series’ publishing identity.

Robert Galbraith is sometimes confused with Cormoran Strike, but Strike is the fictional detective and Galbraith is the author name. Rowling’s collaborator on the series is Robin Ellacott, Strike’s business partner and fellow investigator.