Which J.K. Rowling novel follows the lives of residents in the fictional English town of Pagford?

The J.K. Rowling novel that follows residents of Pagford is The Casual Vacancy.

Published in 2012, The Casual Vacancy was Rowling’s first novel for adults after the Harry Potter series. It is set in the fictional English town of Pagford, where the sudden death of parish councillor Barry Fairbrother creates an empty seat on the local council.

The resulting political contest exposes conflicts involving class, poverty, addiction, family life, and the relationship between Pagford and the nearby Fields housing estate. The novel uses multiple viewpoints rather than centering on a single hero.

The book was marketed as a standalone work and has no connection to the wizarding world. A television adaptation was produced by the BBC and HBO in 2015. Its adult subject matter and social setting distinguish it sharply from Rowling’s earlier children’s fantasy novels.