JK Rowling says new book’s ‘transvestite’ killer is based on real cases

Author JK Rowling has said that a villain in her new book is based on real-life cases.

The Harry Potter author has come under fire following an early review of her latest novel Troubled Blood, written under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith, which is the latest instalment in her Cormoran Strike detective series.

The review from the The Telegraph described the character Dennis Creed as a “a transvestite serial killer” and opined that the book’s “moral seems to be: never trust a man in a dress.”

This prompted a wave of criticism from people calling this an example of Rowling’s ‘transphobia’ after her previous controversial comments on transgender issues, with a hashtag #RIPJKRowling subsequently trending on Twitter.

In the novel itself, Creed disguises himself in women’s clothes to trick a person he was abducting and also historically fetishised women’s clothes.

Rowling herself has written on the Robert Galbraith website details about her new book and Creed’s character.

The author writes that a suspect in the new book is “a sadistic serial killer active in the 60s and 70s, who was loosely based on real life killers Jerry Brudos and Russell Williams – both master manipulators who took trophies from their victims.”

Jerry Brudos was a serial killer and necrophile who murdered at least four women in Oregon, United States, between 1968 and 1969.

It was reported that Brudos wore high heels and masturbated after committing murder and had abducted one of his victims at gunpoint while dressed in women’s clothes.

Meanwhile, Russell Williams was convicted in 2010 of first-degree murder, 82 counts of breaking and entering, and two sexual assaults, with him also having stolen hundreds of sets of women’s underwear.

Rowling also describes “change, loss and absence” as the biggest themes of the book and also recognised that Troubled Blood examines the “changing face of feminism and ideals and stereotypes of femininity”.

The novel has subsequently been criticised for using a working class dialect by journalist and Current Affairs Editor of Pink News, Nick Duffy.

An extract shared by Duffy shows: “‘Well, ‘e ‘ad these ‘ead pains and ‘e was def’nitley nervous. Depressed maybe,’ said Janice.”

Duffy tweeted: “The main thing that struck me about JK Rowling’s new novel is that this is how she thinks working class people talk.”

Others tweeted the language used was “deeply snobbish” and “patronising”.

Rowling previously sparked controversy when she objected to the term “people who menstruate” in June.

JK tweeted in response to a tweet using the term: “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”

She continued: “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.

“I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”

She later penned an essay on transgender issues, which sparked further backlash.

In the piece she wrote: “When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman – and, as I’ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones – then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside. That is the simple truth.”

Her views clashed with statements form stars of the Harry Potter films, including Hermione Grainger actress Emma Watson, who tweeted: “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.”

As debate around Rowling’s latest novel continues on social media, transgender model and activist Munroe Bergdorf noted: “The REALITY is that trans people are more likely to be murdered, than commit murder.

“The REALITY is that trans people are already navigating a hostile environment worldwide and this only adds to that hostility. @jk_rowling is dangerous.”