The Casual Vacancy

About “The Casual Vacancy”

When Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the town of Pagford is shocked. Pagford appears to be an idyllic English town with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but beneath the surface, it is a place of conflict. Different groups in the town are at war with one another. Barry's death leaves a vacancy on the town’s council, which becomes the center of a heated election. The election brings out passion, deception, and surprises. The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults, published in 2012. The story is darkly humorous and thought-provoking.