Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86: Bestselling author and politician passes away suddenly and peacefully at home

Published: 16:29 EDT, 5 October 2026 | Updated: 16:47 EDT, 5 October 2026 Jeffrey Archer has died suddenly and peacefully at home aged 86, publishers Harper Collins have announced.The best-selling novelist passed away 'between writing sessions' just a day before the scheduled release of his new book Adam And Eve, the publisher added.His novels have sold more than 300million copies in 115 countries. He leaves his wife Dame Mary, 81, an eminent scientist, and sons William, 54, and James, 52 – and five young grandchildren.Mr Archer was the MP for Louth between 1969 and 1974 and later entered the House of Lords in 1992 after being made a life peer.After losing his seat in the 70s, he turned to writing with his 1979 novel Kane And Abel still one of the best selling books in the world having sold over 30 million copies.Reviving his political career the following decade, Mr Archer became the deputy chairman of the Conservative party in 1985 while Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.He announced in 1999 he was running for the Mayor of London for the Tories, receiving the backing of Baroness Thatcher and John Major.Lord Archer and Dame Mary celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July with a garden party for 321 friends at their second home, the Old Vicarage in Grantchester, Cambridge.The couple also owned a penthouse on the Thames as well as a place in Majorca, where Jeffrey wrote many of his novels.Estimates this year placed the novelist's fortune at around £200million but he declined to comment on this when speaking to the Daily Mail in September. Lord Archer's last interview was with the Daily Mail last month where he discussed his career and health issues.Jeffrey Archer, pictured with his wife Mary, has died 'suddenly and peacefully at home' aged 86, publishers Harper Collins have announced Archer pictured with Margaret Thatcher in 1986. His novels have sold more than 300million copies in 115 countries The novelist leaves his wife Dame Mary, 81, an eminent scientist, and sons William, 54, and James, 52 – and five young grandchildrenFollowing a cancer diagnosis in 2013, Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare had surgery to remove his prostate which, he revealed, rendered him permanently impotent. 'I'd rather have a life. "Fertile and dead". It's not much of a choice, is it?' he previously said.Adam And Eve was always to be his final novel, with Lord Archer telling this paper: 'I'm 86. I don't think I could do it again. So why not go now?'It's hard work. I write every word in longhand with felt tip pen on a 32-line pad. I hand-wrote 18 drafts over two years. I don't know how to turn on a computer.'He added in September: 'I find old age tiresome. I don't think I'd like to live to 100. I have a hip problem. 'I can't move as fast as I'd like to but thankfully Mary and I both seem to be firing on all cylinders mentally.'Alzheimer's is my biggest dread, so I test my memory all the time; for names, places, events.'