What was J.K. Rowling’s first novel after the Harry Potter series?

J.K. Rowling’s first novel after the Harry Potter series was The Casual Vacancy.

Published in 2012, The Casual Vacancy was Rowling’s first novel written for adults. It is set in the fictional English village of Pagford, where a vacancy on the local parish council exposes conflicts involving class, poverty, drugs, family relationships, and social responsibility.

The novel differs sharply from Harry Potter in setting, tone, and subject matter. Instead of magic and adventure, it presents a contemporary social drama focused on competing residents and the effects of local politics. The book was published by Little, Brown and Company.

The Casual Vacancy is sometimes confused with Rowling’s later crime novels. The Cuckoo’s Calling, published in 2013, was her first novel featuring Cormoran Strike and was initially credited to Robert Galbraith. The Casual Vacancy therefore marks Rowling’s first post-Potter novel, not her first post-Potter crime book.