What is the name of J.K. Rowling’s 2012 novel about the residents of Pagford?

The name of J.K. Rowling’s 2012 novel about the residents of Pagford is The Casual Vacancy.

The Casual Vacancy was Rowling’s first novel published after the Harry Potter series. It was released on 27 September 2012 and is set in the fictional English town of Pagford. The plot begins with the sudden death of Barry Fairbrother, a parish councillor, and follows the social and political conflicts that emerge after his seat becomes vacant.

Unlike the Harry Potter books, the novel is written for adults and does not use a magical setting. It examines class, poverty, local government, family conflict, and tensions between Pagford and the neighboring Fields estate. The title refers to the vacant council position created by Fairbrother’s death.

The novel was adapted as a three-part BBC television drama in 2015. A common mix-up is placing it among Rowling’s crime novels; those books were published under the Robert Galbraith name and feature Cormoran Strike.