Which character is the central detective in J.K. Rowling’s crime novels?

Cormoran Strike is the central detective in J.K. Rowling’s crime novels written as Robert Galbraith. He is a private investigator based in London.

Strike first appears in The Cuckoo’s Calling, where he investigates the death of model Lula Landry. The series also follows Robin Ellacott, who begins as Strike’s temporary secretary and develops into his investigative partner. Their professional relationship is a continuing thread across the books.

Strike is a former military investigator who lost part of one leg in Afghanistan. His background, physical injury, and difficult personal history distinguish him from the magical heroes of Rowling’s earlier fiction. The series belongs to the detective and crime genres, with each novel built around a separate investigation while also advancing the characters’ longer story.