What is the title of J.K. Rowling’s only novel written for adults before her crime series?

The Casual Vacancy was J.K. Rowling’s first novel written for adults before her crime series.

Published in 2012, the novel is set in the fictional English town of Pagford. Its plot begins after the sudden death of Barry Fairbrother, a parish councillor, creates a vacant seat on the local council. The resulting political struggle exposes conflicts involving class, poverty, addiction, family, and public services.

The book differs sharply from the fantasy setting of Harry Potter. It is contemporary fiction for adults, with no magic and an ensemble cast rather than one young central hero. Its title refers to the unoccupied council position created by Fairbrother’s death.

The Casual Vacancy was adapted into a three-part BBC television drama in 2015. Rowling’s later adult crime fiction was published under the Robert Galbraith name, beginning with The Cuckoo’s Calling in 2013.