Which J.K. Rowling novel became her first published book written specifically for adults?

The Casual Vacancy became J.K. Rowling’s first published book written specifically for adults.

Published in 2012, the novel is set in the fictional English parish of Pagford. Its plot begins after the death of Barry Fairbrother, a local councillor, creates an unexpected vacancy on the parish council. The resulting political contest exposes conflicts involving class, poverty, drugs, family life and local authority.

The book is not a fantasy novel and does not take place in the Harry Potter universe. Its setting is an ordinary contemporary English community, and its large cast allows Rowling to explore several social viewpoints at once.

The Casual Vacancy was published by Little, Brown and Company. It was later adapted as a three-part BBC television drama. Rowling’s crime novels followed under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, beginning with The Cuckoo’s Calling in 2013.