I'll start by saying that J.K. Rowling did not let me down. 
 The Casual Vacancy is not the kind of book I would usually read, and what made me read it in the first place was the fact that J.K Rowling wrote it, but thankfully I did because it's wonderful. 
 The story takes place in Pagford, a small town England. It starts with the death of Barry Fairbrother and we get too see how this death play out in the lives of many different people, be that directly or indirectly. There were several main characters and the story changed the POV between then constantly, but it was managed beautifully and wasn't confusing at all. 
 It's real life you know? It's not all value, loyalty, great adventures, fighting the evil and word saving. It's bad, petty people, it's good people doing bad things too, it's poverty, corruption, drugs, death, ignorance, it's ugly, it's gritty, it's REAL. It makes you think, It plays with your emotions, and I loved it. 
 And a big thumbs down for all those who read this book expecting another harry potter, and that against all odds there would be a dementor attack on Pagford and the wizards would come to the rescue on a big adventure, and when they didn't find it, they gave this great book low reviews. It deserves better.