Jeffrey Archer Books: Where to Start, and in What Order

The news

Jeffrey Archer died at his home in London on October 5, 2026, aged 86. His publisher, HarperCollins, said he died peacefully between writing sessions. His final novel, Adam & Eve, was published the next day, and he had been due to discuss it at the Cheltenham Literature Festival that weekend. He is survived by his wife, Dame Mary Archer, two sons and five grandchildren.

Who he was

Archer's life was as dramatic as his plots. He became a Conservative MP at 29, then resigned after a disastrous investment left him facing bankruptcy, and wrote his first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less (1976), to pay his debts. Bestsellers followed, along with a return to politics as the party's deputy chairman and a life peerage in 1992. In 2001 he was convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice and jailed for four years, serving two, an experience he turned into three volumes of prison diaries. Through it all he kept writing; his books have sold in the hundreds of millions.

Where to start, by what you like

• The classic: Kane and Abel (1979). Two men born on the same day, a Boston banker's son and a Polish immigrant, become lifelong rivals. Over 30 million copies sold.
• A long family saga: the Clifton Chronicles, seven books following Harry Clifton from 1920s Bristol through the 20th century.
• Detective fiction: the William Warwick novels, following a Scotland Yard detective from constable upwards.
• Revenge and courtroom drama: A Prisoner of Birth (2008), a modern take on The Count of Monte Cristo.
• Politics: First Among Equals (1984), about four MPs racing to become prime minister.
• Something short: A Twist in the Tale (1988) or A Quiver Full of Arrows (1980), short stories built around last-page surprises.
• The fun debut: Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, in which four men swindled by a fraudster plot to steal back exactly what they lost.

Reading order: Kane and Abel

1. Kane and Abel (1979)
2. The Prodigal Daughter (1982), following Abel's daughter Florentyna
3. Shall We Tell the President? (read the revised 1986 edition, which features Florentyna)

Reading order: the Clifton Chronicles

1. Only Time Will Tell (2011)
2. The Sins of the Father (2012)
3. Best Kept Secret (2013)
4. Be Careful What You Wish For (2014)
5. Mightier than the Sword (2015)
6. Cometh the Hour (2016)
7. This Was a Man (2016)

Each book ends on a cliffhanger, so have the next one ready. A neat link: in the Chronicles, Harry Clifton becomes a crime novelist whose hero is a detective called William Warwick. Archer later gave Warwick his own series.

Reading order: William Warwick

1. Nothing Ventured (2019)
2. Hidden in Plain Sight (2020)
3. Turn a Blind Eye (2021)
4. Over My Dead Body (2021)
5. Next in Line (2022)
6. Traitors Gate (2023)
7. An Eye for an Eye (2024)
8. End Game (2025), the last of the series

His final novel: Adam & Eve

Adam & Eve (HarperCollins, October 6, 2026) is a standalone, so you don't need to have read anything else. Two children are born within hours of each other on Armistice Day 1918: Adam, a shepherd's son, and Eve, an earl's daughter. Their lives run towards the Second World War, and Archer said the book began as a love story and became a thriller. Its premise deliberately echoes Kane and Abel, which makes the two a fitting first and last read.

Frequently asked questions

In what order should I read the Clifton Chronicles? Only Time Will Tell, The Sins of the Father, Best Kept Secret, Be Careful What You Wish For, Mightier than the Sword, Cometh the Hour and This Was a Man. They form one continuous story, so read them in order.

What was Jeffrey Archer's last book? Adam & Eve, a standalone novel published by HarperCollins on October 6, 2026, the day after his death. It follows two people born within hours of each other on Armistice Day 1918, a shepherd's son and an earl's daughter.

Want your next read?

Our book quiz can suggest one to match your mood. See also our guides to mystery novels for beginners and what to read next.