What is the name of J.K. Rowling’s 2012 novel for adults about a small English town?

J.K. Rowling’s 2012 adult novel about a small English town is The Casual Vacancy. It was her first published novel after the Harry Potter series.

The story begins after the death of Barry Fairbrother, a parish councillor in the fictional English town of Pagford. His sudden vacancy on the local council triggers a bitter political and social struggle involving residents from different classes and generations.

The novel is not a fantasy story and does not take place in the wizarding world. Its title refers to the empty council seat created by Fairbrother’s death. The book was published by Little, Brown Book Group in the United Kingdom and Little, Brown and Company in the United States.