8 JK Rowling books except Harry Potter. Fascinate no less

Many people know JK Rowling thanks to her saga about The Boy Who Lived. This series of books can rightly be called a modern classic. The writer gained her popularity just after the successful film adaptations of Harry Potter. However, J.K. Rowling’s bibliography contains many books that are lesser known but just as fascinating. Basically, her work is aimed at an adult audience, but there are works that will interest young readers as well.

💡 Interesting fact: JK Rowling published some of her serious adult books under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. There are plenty of those in this collection.

The Cuckoo’s Calling (2013)

The beginning of the story about Detective Cormoran Strike, where he, along with assistant Robin Ellacott, investigates the death of Lula Landry, a famous model who fell from a great height. At first glance, this is a typical suicide. The same version was picked up by all local media. At first, Strike is reluctant to take on the case, but an empty wallet still makes him agree. Having got acquainted with the environment of the model and after listening to their versions of what happened before the death of the girl, the detective is no longer sure that it was suicide. He notices inconsistencies. His suspicions are confirmed when Lula’s neighbor reveals that the girl was deliberately pushed off the balcony by a man. The work of a detective is difficult – no one can be trusted, every word of a suspect can be an attempt to put him on the wrong track.

The Silkworm (2014)

Private detective Cormoran Strike is approached by the wife of not-so-successful writer Owen Quine. The woman reports that he went missing a few days ago. This happened before, when Owen simply ran away from his family and hid from them for some time. Leonora Quine instructs the detective and his assistant Robin to find the unlucky husband and return to the family. Strike agrees, but in the course of the investigation, very interesting details emerge. It turned out that the writer took with him his fresh manuscripts, where he speaks extremely unflatteringly about quite influential people, revealing their dirty secrets. Each of them has a reason to silence the writer, because the publication of these manuscripts threatens to ruin their careers and precipitously fall down the social ladder.

“In the service of evil” (Career of Evil, 2015)

Continuation of a series of detective stories about Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. The couple has already solved several high-profile murders and earned fame as successful private investigators. One fine day, Robin comes to their modest office and finds a strange package on his desk. Upon opening it, the girl is horrified. The bloodied part of a woman’s leg lies in a cardboard box. Strike is alarmed. He remembers four people who have good reasons to take revenge on him. All these people are absolutely ruthless, each of them is capable of disgusting things. The detectives give information to the local police, but their application is not taken seriously. Kormoran and Robin have to take matters into their own hands. They conduct a secret investigation, gradually narrowing the circle of suspects. Every minute is at stake – the next victim could be Robin.

Lethal White (2018)

The cases of private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott are on the rise. They expand the business and hire two freelancers. Suddenly, a mentally ill guy named Billy approaches them in the office. He says that as a child he witnessed a crime – a group of people killed and buried a baby. In parallel with this, detectives are hired by the Minister of Culture. He asks to find the person who recently began to blackmail him. The minister says that many years ago he committed an act that is now considered illegal, but then it was not. He does not reveal the essence of the act. The couple embarks on an investigation. However, they soon find their customer dead. The official version of the police is suicide. The minister’s daughter categorically disagrees with this. Now she is hiring detectives to shed light on this story.

“Bad Blood” (Troubled Blood, 2020)

Once again, Detective Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin Ellacott have to solve a complicated crime. Anna Phipps asks him to shed some light on the mysterious disappearance of her mother, Dr. Margot Bamboro, several years ago. Detectives begin to search for all the acquaintances of the victim, while investigating smaller cases in parallel. The police found serial maniac Dennis Creed guilty of killing Margot, but Strike has a different opinion. The investigation is moving too slowly, so by the end of the agreed period, the detectives can not provide Anna with almost anything. It would seem that everything is over, but this story does not leave Kormoran’s head. They decide to continue investigating out of curiosity. As befits a true detective, he calculates the killer, who turns out to be the most unremarkable person from all the acquaintances of the victim.

The Ickabog (2020)

A children’s fantasy story about the distant and happy kingdom of Cornicopia, where the kind and fair King Fred the Brave rules. However, the well-being of a carefree world is under threat. Residents of the northern region of the kingdom – Smurland – talk about a terrible monster whose name is Ickabog. This creature lives in swamps. She drags away and kills lost travelers, animals. Until recently, it was just a children’s horror story. However, the fairy tale has come true and threatens the peaceful life of the people of Cornicopia. The king decides to go to the swamps and fight the Ickabog face to face. However, a brave feat does not work. The king was afraid, and his close lords committed a terrible crime. Fred, under the influence of cunning and cruel nobles, is forced to lie to the inhabitants of Cornicopia, not even suspecting what this will lead to.

“Random Vacancy” (The Casual Vacancy, 2012)

Deep social drama that tells about the events taking place in the fictional British town of Pagford. Recently there was a terrible tragedy – a member of the city council, Barry Fairbrother, died suddenly. This news shocked the inhabitants and shook the cozy calm of the town. Was Pagford as perfect as he wanted to appear at first glance? The city itself was beautiful – cobbled streets, a large market square, a majestic ancient monastery. No skyscrapers and fuss, calm measured life. The problem was with the people. Pagford is a city of eternal conflict: rich with beggars, teenagers with parents, teachers with students, husbands with wives. Against the backdrop of eternal vicissitudes between residents, there are elections for a vacant seat in the council. It looks like a real war is brewing.

“Very Good Lives” (Very Good Lives, 2015)

Once JK Rowling was invited to speak at Harvard University with a speech for future graduates. This book is a printed version of that speech. The writer chose a topic close to her about the value of imagination and the importance of negative experience. Rowling argues that the ability to adequately withstand the blow of fate and not break the spirit in case of failure is a necessary norm for a good life. Separately, the writer singles out the human ability to mentally put oneself in the place of another and consider the situation from a new angle – perhaps from a person who is much less fortunate. JK Rowling calls this a unique gift. The writer illustrates her words with examples from her personal life. She believes that only by taking risks can you make your life better.