Rowling's first foray into the world of adult fiction was an entertaining read. The Casual Vacancy deals with events following the death of Parish Councillor Barry Fairbrother. The little village of Pagford turns out to be a hot bed of political back biting, bigotry and ignorance as the residents squabble over the vacant seat.
Rowling hasn't quite purged Potter from her head as the children of the village play as large, perhaps larger, a role in the novel as the adults. However, excellent characterisation made it an entertaining read as did some very effective social commentary.
Rowling has her detractors but I for one always enjoy the way she spins a tale. My biggest criticism is that it is perhaps a couple of hundred pages too long and don't expect action. This is very much a character driven novel. A worthwhile read that attempts to deal with large social issues in a small village.
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