What is the name of J.K. Rowling’s first published book for adults?

The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first published book for adults.

Released in 2012, it followed the completion of the seven Harry Potter novels and represented a deliberate change in readership, genre and subject matter. The story is set in Pagford, a fictional English community whose local political arguments expose tensions between wealthy residents and people living in poverty.

The central incident is the unexpected death of Barry Fairbrother, a parish councillor. His vacant seat triggers a bitter election campaign, while the novel follows several families and young people affected by the community’s disputes.

The book is sometimes confused with The Cuckoo’s Calling because both were published after Harry Potter and both belong to Rowling’s post-series career. However, The Cuckoo’s Calling is a crime novel credited to Robert Galbraith, whereas The Casual Vacancy was openly published under Rowling’s name.