It is with great sadness that HarperCollins announces that bestselling author Jeffrey Archer, Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, died suddenly and peacefully at home, aged 86, on 5 October, between writing sessions.

Jeffrey Archer was one of the bestselling authors of the last half-century whose new book, Adam and Eve, which the author had always planned to be his final novel, is published globally by HarperCollins this week.

Jeffrey’s career is the stuff of publishing legend. His first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, was published in 1976, the start of an incredible literary career: he spent a total of 14 years and five months on the Sunday Times bestseller lists and 5 ½ years on the New York Times bestseller lists, selling 300-million books in 119 countries in 49 languages.

He is the only author ever to have been a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller in fiction, short stories and non-fiction. His readers meant everything to him, and on Sunday he met and signed books for hundreds of fans at a sold out event at the Leicester Square Theatre in London.

A member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century, the author is survived by his wife who he was infinitely proud of, Dame Mary Archer, their two sons, James and William, two granddaughters and three grandsons (one of whom just finished a school biography on him).

They all celebrated Jeffrey and Mary’s 60th wedding anniversary this year with many friends at The Old Vicarage in Grantchester.

The family have asked for privacy at this time, and to share how much he was loved and how proud they are of him.

Kate Elton, HarperCollins UK CEO and Jeffrey’s editor, said: ‘It has been one of the great privileges of my publishing life to have been Jeffrey Archer's editor. He was the master storyteller and an editor's dream - phenomenally hard-working, utterly committed to completing draft after draft to get every word as perfect as possible, and a true champion of the 'team' nature of great publishing.  When he set out to write Adam and Eve he told me from the very beginning that it would be his final novel - he was so excited about the scale of it and told me that if he could pull it off it would equal anything he'd previously written, on which basis he couldn't imagine embarking on any future novels.  He did indeed pull it off - and he was utterly thrilled by the early reader reactions.  We're all devastated to have lost a writer who has brought joy to generations of readers - and a true friend.’