What pseudonym did J.K. Rowling use for her crime fiction?

J.K. Rowling used the pseudonym Robert Galbraith for her crime fiction.

The name first appeared on The Cuckoo’s Calling, published in 2013. The novel introduced private detective Cormoran Strike and his temporary secretary, Robin Ellacott. Rowling chose to publish the book under a male-sounding pen name so the work could be judged without the immediate expectations attached to Harry Potter.

The pseudonym was publicly revealed in 2013 after a linguistic analysis and media investigation connected Galbraith with Rowling. Rowling subsequently acknowledged that she was the author. Robert Galbraith is therefore a pen name, not a separate writer with an independent biography.

The Cormoran Strike novels remain distinct from Rowling’s Harry Potter books and from her novel The Casual Vacancy. The crime series has also been adapted for television as Strike, but the television production should not be confused with the original Galbraith-authored novels.