Jeffrey Archer, bestselling UK novelist and scandal-plagued politician, dies aged 86

Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling British novelist and former politician who served time for perjury in a high-profile libel case, has died at the age of 86, according to his publisher HarperCollins. Archer sold over 300 million copies of his works worldwide and was renowned for his fast-paced thrillers, including his debut novel "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less" in 1976 and "Kane & Abel" in 1979. His latest novel, "Adam and Eve," is set to be published on Tuesday.

Kate Elton, HarperCollins UK CEO and Archer's editor, expressed deep sadness over the loss of a writer who brought joy to generations of readers and a true friend. Archer also had a notable political career, serving as a Conservative lawmaker and senior party official under Margaret Thatcher in the mid-1980s.

However, Archer is best remembered for his public downfall. In 1987, he sued the Daily Star tabloid for reporting that he had paid a woman for sex, winning a record £500,000 in damages. The case resurfaced when he ran as the Conservative candidate for London's first elected mayor in 1999. Archer was accused of lying by a former friend and was subsequently charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice.

He was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison, serving two years during which he wrote "A Prison Diary."