British author and politician Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86, his publisher HarpersCollins announced, stating he passed away “suddenly and peacefully” while writing. Throughout his career, Archer sold approximately 300 million books, including his successful debut *Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less* and the bestseller *Kane and Abel*. Born in London and raised in Wellington, England—a location frequently featured in his novels—Archer had a varied career before becoming a renowned author. He initially worked for the Conservative Party and attempted to run an art gallery, but faced financial difficulties that led him to write his first novel. Later, a scandal involving a payment to a sex worker and a subsequent libel case against the *Daily Star* newspaper severely impacted his political career, despite a period as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher. *Kane and Abel* became a massive success, reaching number one on *The New York Times* bestseller list and being adapted into a CBS television series.