Which pseudonymous author identity was revealed as J. K. Rowling in 2013?

The pseudonymous author identity revealed as J. K. Rowling in 2013 was Robert Galbraith. Galbraith’s debut novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling, introduced private investigator Cormoran Strike and was published in April 2013. Rowling’s authorship became public later that year after a linguistic analysis by researchers was reported in the British press.

The revelation showed that the novel had initially received positive reviews without the marketing power of Rowling’s name. Rowling said the pseudonym allowed her to publish in a different genre and to work without the intense public expectations attached to Harry Potter. She continued the series under the Galbraith name after the disclosure.

Robert Galbraith is an author identity, not the name of the central fictional detective. That detective is Cormoran Strike, a former military investigator working in London. The series also features Robin Ellacott, whose professional relationship with Strike develops across the books. This distinction prevents a common mix-up between the pseudonym and the character.