Which J.K. Rowling novel was published in 2012 as her first book for adults?

The Casual Vacancy was published in 2012 as J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults. Little, Brown released it on 27 September 2012 in the United Kingdom, the United States, and several other markets.

The novel is set in the fictional English town of Pagford. Its plot begins after the sudden death of Barry Fairbrother, a member of the local parish council. The resulting vacant council seat exposes conflicts involving class, poverty, addiction, family life, and local politics.

Unlike the Harry Potter novels, The Casual Vacancy is not fantasy. It is a contemporary social novel with an ensemble cast and an adult readership in mind. Its title refers to the unoccupied council position created by Fairbrother’s death.

The book was adapted into a three-part BBC television drama in 2015. It is often confused with Rowling’s later crime novels, which she published under the Robert Galbraith pseudonym.