The Casual Vacancy marked author J.K. Rowling's departure from the fantasy of Harry Potter to a realistic depiction of life in a small English village where everyone knows everyone and their business.

The unexpected death of Barry Fairbrother, a compassionate man, creates a casual (unexpected) vacancy on the Parish Council, which rules life in Pagford which, in turn, is dominated by the District Council of Yarvil, the adjoining larger town.

The Pagford council has long been divided into two factions -- one intent on divesting itself of jurisdiction of the Fields, a cluster of low-income homes and site of an addiction clinic, the other dedicated to retaining control for the benefit of residents of the Fields.

Fairbrother, a teacher who raised himself from a deprived background, hoped to do the same for his students, some of whom reside in the Fields. His chief adversary Howard Mollison sees Barry's death as an opportunity to install his lawyer son as a successor and, thus, assure his goal of ridding Pagford of responsibility for the Fields.

But, the best laid plans oft do go awry when two unanticipated contenders announce their candidacy.

Things get more complicated when computer-skilled teens hack into the council website and post a series of messages anonymously as the "ghost of Barry Fairbrother,' setting the stage for havoc.

Rowling skillfully moves the story from character to character unveiling snobbery, jealously, criminal behavior, dysfunction, the whole stewpot of human emotions. The result is tragedy for some, reconciliation for a few, and a show of strength by an unexpected heroine.

It may not be a novel to everyone's liking. But I enjoyed it and see it as a prelude to the more mature style she's employed, writing as Robert Galbraith, in her Cormoran Strike crime fiction series.