J.K. Rowling Reveals Secret Identity

J.K. Rowling has pulled off some impressive literary wizardry: She has managed to gain acclaim for writing a detective novel without anyone knowing she had penned it.

The best-selling author of the "Harry Potter" series used the pseudonym Robert Galbraith to write "The Cuckoo's Calling," which features a war veteran turned private investigator and the mysterious death of a model.

The "debut novel" by Galbraith, a supposed ex-military man, won favorable reviews when it was published in April by Sphere, part of publisher Little, Brown.

The Sunday Times revealed Rowling wrote the book. Her spokeswoman then confirmed it.

Rowling said in a statement she had hoped to keep the secret a little longer because "being Robert Galbraith has been such a liberating experience."