JK Rowling’s alter ego Robert Galbraith has been shortlisted for a crime-writing prize.

Harry Potter author Rowling, who writes crime novels under the male pseudonym, has been nominated for Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year for her work Career Of Evil.

JK Rowling as her alter ego Robert Galbraith as she attends the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, hosted in Harrogate
JK Rowling as her alter ego Robert Galbraith with his second novel (Fenris Oswin/PA)

The book is the third novel in the Cormoran Strike series, which is being adapted for a new BBC television series. Strike is an injured war veteran-turned-private investigator working in contemporary London.

Rowling will compete against former TV documentary maker Renee Knight for her debut Disclaimer and former police officer Clare Mackintosh for her first thriller I Let You Go.

Also nominated is previous winner Mark Billingham, who is shortlisted for his 13th offering in the Tom Thorne series, Time Of Death. Billingham won the prize in 2005 and 2009.

Mark Billingham and his wife Claire attending the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2014 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
Mark Billingham and his wife Claire (Ian West/PA)

Tell No Tales by Eva Dolan, about murdered migrant workers, also received a nod alongside Rain Dogs by Adrian McKinty, the fifth in the Sean Duffy thriller series, which is set in Belfast in the 1980s.

Author Val McDermid will be presented with the outstanding contribution to crime fiction award at a ceremony on July 21 on the opening night of the 14th Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate.

K Rowling as her alto ego Robert Galbraith as she attends the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, hosted in Harrogate with Val McDermid.
JK Rowling with Val McDermid (Fenris Oswin/PA)

Judge Simon Theakston said: “As a writer, she is rightfully known as the Queen of Crime. Val is very deserving of this accolade in the pantheon of legendary crime authors.”

The 12th Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award is open to crime authors whose novels were published in paperback from May 1 2015 to April 18 2016.

The winner will receive a £3,000 cash prize as well as a handmade, engraved oak beer cask made by Theakston Old Peculier.