What was J.K. Rowling’s first novel written for adults?

J.K. Rowling’s first novel written for adults was The Casual Vacancy.

Little, Brown published The Casual Vacancy in 2012. Unlike the Harry Potter books, it is a contemporary social novel set in the fictional English town of Pagford. The story begins after the death of Barry Fairbrother, a parish councillor, creates a vacancy on the local council.

The book explores tensions involving class, poverty, addiction, family conflict, and local politics. Its adult setting and subject matter marked a clear change from Rowling’s children’s fantasy work, although both bodies of writing examine how institutions and communities affect individual lives.

The Casual Vacancy was released with substantial secrecy and global publicity because it was Rowling’s first major novel after Harry Potter. It was later adapted into a three-part BBC television drama in 2015. The book is separate from Rowling’s later crime novels, which she published under the name Robert Galbraith.