PERHAPS THE MOST hotly anticipated book of the year JK Rowling’s first post-Potter book will be in bookshops this year. The Casual Vacancy is a dark comedy for adults.

Her publisher Little, Brown and Company promise it will be “blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising”. It will be available in shops on 27 September.

JK Rowling has decided to veer away from mystery and magic. The new book tells the story of Barry Fairweather who dies unexpectedly in the little town of Pagford.

This idyllic English town is shocked but as they try and fill Fairweather’s empty seat on the parish council a town war ensues. The publishers describe the book as being about a town war where the rich are at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie Adrian White from Irish booksellers Dubray Books said “We have very high expectations for J.K. Rowling’s first adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. Many of the millions of Harry Potter readers have now grown up. Add to that her magical touch as a storyteller and I believe you have what is certain to be the year’s best-selling book.”

According to The Guardian Neill Denny, editor of the Bookseller, said he was confident that The Casual Vacancy will sell more than 1 million copies in the UK.  Waterstones have stated they have “never been more excited” about the new release.

Rowling’s seven former titles that make up the Harry Potter series have sold 450 million copies worldwide, and have produced eight films, which grossed more than $7 billion. JK Rowling’s wizard world has also spawned a theme park in Orlando, Florida and now a tour at Leavesden Studios just outside London.