One Direction’s Niall Horan makes a special appearance in Jk Rowling’s latest novel, as the imaginary boyfriend of a murdered young girl. Horan is mentioned in Career of Evil, the latest instalment of Rowling’s Cormoran Strike series, which the author publishes under the pen name Robert Galbraith.

Niall HoranNiall Horan is mentioned in JK Rowling’s new book, Career of Evil.

One Direction fans have been excitedly sharing screencaps of paragraphs from the book which mention the singer on Twitter. The paragraphs show Horan being name-dropped as character Hazel discusses her murdered friend Kelsey’s boyfriend, who is called Niall. However it appears Niall was actually imaginary and based on Kelsey’s obsession with the One Directioner.

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One paragraph reads: ‘Hazel returned carrying a tray bearing mugs of tea and a plate of biscuits. After she had carefully positioned his tea on a coaster beside her mother’s photograph, Strike said: ‘I hear Kelsey had a boyfriend.’ ‘Rubbish,’ retorted Hazel, dropping back into her armchair. ‘More porkies. ‘What makes you —?’”

‘She said his name was Niall. Niall. Honestly.’ Her eyes leaked more tears. Strike was at a loss to understand why Kelsey’s boyfriend might not have been called Niall and his incomprehension showed. ‘One Direction,’ she said over the top of her tissue.’

‘Sorry,’ said Strike, completely at sea. ‘I don’t —’ ‘The band. They’re a band that came third on 'The X-Factor'. She’s obsessed - she was obsessed - and Niall was her favourite. So when she says she’s met a boy called Niall and he’s eighteen and he’s got a motorbike, I mean, what were we supposed to think?’ ‘Ah. I see.’”

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Career of Evil is the third book in Rowling’s Cormoran Strike series, following on from The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm. According to the New York Times, the book is full of musical references, with it’s title being inspired by a song of the same name by Blue Oyster Cult, which contains lyrics by Patti Smith.