Which 2012 novel by J.K. Rowling focuses on a fictional English village called Pagford?

J.K. Rowling’s 2012 novel focused on the fictional English village of Pagford is The Casual Vacancy. It was Rowling’s first novel published after the Harry Potter series.

The story begins after the unexpected death of Barry Fairbrother, a member of Pagford’s parish council. His vacant seat triggers a local election, exposing conflicts involving class, poverty, addiction, family life, and public responsibility. The novel is written for adults and does not take place in the wizarding world.

The title refers to the empty council position created by Fairbrother’s death. Readers sometimes confuse The Casual Vacancy with Rowling’s later crime fiction, but it is a standalone social novel rather than part of the Cormoran Strike series. Its setting and concerns are deliberately grounded in contemporary British community life.