If I liked a Casual Vacancy...

[Puddlejuice]

Can you recommend something else I might like please?
I've spent years not reading due to young dc and poor concentration, but I've rediscovered my love of books.
Just finished casual vacancy, which I really enjoyed, what shall I read next?

Was it the subject or the style you liked? JK Rowling has written a series of excellent mystery novels under the nom de plume of Robert Galbraith which might be worth a try.

I liked the subject, a kitchen sink drama with enough grit that it wasn't twee, but no so gritty as to leave you depressed. The language was just right for me too, an easy read but intelligently written.
I'll give her detective novels a go, thanks.

How about Kate Atkinson? I think you’d enjoy her Jackson Brodie books. They start with Case Histories.

Thanks @southeastdweller I'll look her books up too. I'm really excited about reading again, it's like getting in touch with an old, much loved friend again.

I'd recommend Anthony Horowitz's 'Magpie Murders', similar kind of feel and a really great read.

I also came on to recommend Kate Atkinson. I normally don't get on with detective series but the Jackson Brodie books are amazing (as is all of her other stuff).

I loved The Casual Vacancy and am always glad to hear of someone else who did, as it can be a bit of a Marmite book.

Other books I liked that I think might appeal would be The Rotters' Club and sequels by Jonathan Coe, and Crooked Heart and Old Baggage by Lissa Evans. Also if you like detective novels, I always recommend Tana French's Dublin Murder Club series (read them in order), and Susie Steiner's Manon Bradshaw books. Very much second Kate Atkinson, who is brilliant. Oh and one last one, Maggie O'Farrell, especially This Must Be the Place.

I was going to recommend Lissa Evans too, loved both of her books.
For a kitchen sink drama what about The Cazalets Elizabeth Jane Howard? There are 4 or 5 in the series.

Then you have terrible taste? Sorry.

I love a casual vacancy and the Rotters club zs recommended above. I also like the Robert Galbraith books
Maggie O'Farrel is one of my favourite authors. Heft I loved recently
One of my best ever books is the poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

Here’s a few you might like:

Reservoir 13, Jon McGregor (also about village life, and a mystery, very well written)

Hearts and Minds, Amanda Craig (complex domestic drama, exposing the gritty underbelly of London society)

Expectation, Amanda Hope (the lives of three women, as they grow and adapt into adulthood, tenderly observed, very easy read)

@JasonPollack, proving my point there.

But seriously, why would you post that on a thread where someone's not looking to debate the merits of a book, but asking for recommendations for something else they might like if they enjoyed it? Surely a classic scroll on by.

I know but it's so deeply vile. It's sanctimonious poverty porn. It's not just that I dislike the book, I am morally opposed to it.

Thanks everyone for your recommendations.
JasonPollock whatever are you talking about? It's far from poverty porn. It's telling the story of several characters who live in a village.
The area I live in is exactly the same, a private school backing onto a sink estate of high rises with more than its fair share of problems.
How can that be porn, its just life.

The ghost was a good read too

I loved The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher audiobook.

Quite enjoyed Robert Galbraith books but really loved Susan Hill Simon Serrailler series.

I have just finished rereading the Robert Galbraith books all in one go after having really enjoyed the TV series. I thought the characters of Strike and Robin were perfectly cast and I've really enjoyed re-reading the series with them in mind.

I've popped back to say thanks to all for the recommendations.

I started the Strike series by Robert Galbraith, I really enjoyed Cockoos Calling, absolute page turner. I then moved on to Silkworm and managed about 60 pages before giving up and looking up the ending on Wikipedia.

The writing style hadn't changed, so it must be down to not particularly liking any of the characters and not caring who killed whom, why or when. I just couldn't muster up much enthusiasm to read on.

I think I'll try Career of Evil and if that doesn't stick move on to one of the many other recommendations here, so thanks again.

Can I recommend you watch the series on telly first? It's just that the characters are so well portrayed you might read the rest of the books with a different understanding and enjoyment.

@Campervan69 that's not something I've ever done, but I decided to give it a go, and the bloody BBC has taken it off the Iplayer, such a shame.

Oh no how dare they. It really worked for me because I found the same as you the second book I just wasn't getting into although I did plough through it. But then I watched the TV series and I've just re-read all 4 of the books in the last couple of weeks one after the other and I really enjoyed them and really got into the world. I found I could imagine it a lot better knowing the characters now though the TV series.

Ooh I adored The Casual Vacancy too, thought it was superior to her Galbraith books.

Thanks for all the receommendations above!

I've always wanted to read the Cazalet novels.