Which pseudonymous author wrote The Cuckoo’s Calling, later revealed to be J.K. Rowling?

Robert Galbraith wrote The Cuckoo’s Calling, and the author was later revealed to be J.K. Rowling.

The crime novel was published in April 2013. It introduces Cormoran Strike, a private detective and former military investigator, who examines the death of supermodel Lula Landry. Robin Ellacott joins Strike as a temporary secretary and becomes an important partner in the series.

The book initially attracted attention as a debut novel by an apparently new author. Rowling’s authorship was uncovered through linguistic analysis and reporting, and the revelation was confirmed in July 2013. The publisher then issued editions identifying Rowling’s connection while retaining the Robert Galbraith author name.

Robert Galbraith is therefore not the detective. Cormoran Strike is the fictional investigator, while Galbraith is the pseudonym used for the series. The later books The Silkworm and Career of Evil continued the Strike novels under that author identity.