What was the name of J.K. Rowling’s debut crime novel?

J.K. Rowling’s debut crime novel was The Cuckoo’s Calling.

The Cuckoo’s Calling was published in 2013 under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. It introduces Cormoran Strike, a private detective in London, and Robin Ellacott, who begins working as his temporary secretary. The mystery starts when model Lula Landry dies after falling from a balcony, and Strike investigates whether her death was really suicide.

The novel was initially received as the work of a previously unknown author. Rowling’s authorship became public several months after publication, after a legal disclosure and subsequent reporting. She continued the series under the Robert Galbraith name, allowing the crime books to retain a distinct branding from Harry Potter.

The Cuckoo’s Calling is different from The Casual Vacancy, Rowling’s first adult novel, which appeared in 2012. It is also distinct from the later Strike novels Career of Evil, Lethal White, Troubled Blood, and The Ink Black Heart.