British writer Jeffrey Archer, one of the most internationally successful authors of recent decades and a figure with close ties to Mallorca, has died aged 86. The author of Kane and Abel died at his home on Monday 5 October, just one day before the publication of Adam and Eve, the novel with which he had decided to bring his literary career of almost half a century to a close.
British writer Jeffrey Archer. Photo: Broosk Saib.
His publisher, HarperCollins, announced that Archer had died suddenly and peacefully at his home “between writing sessions”. The novelist leaves behind a career that saw more than 300 million copies of his books sold worldwide, with his works translated and published in numerous countries.
Mallorca held a special place in that career. Archer had been writing on the island for three decades and around 15 years ago built a house in Sa Torre, where he found one of his main creative retreats.
In an interview with Mallorca Global Mag, published in the winter 2026-27 edition, the writer explained his close relationship with the island: “I have been writing in Mallorca for 30 years and 15 years ago I built a house in Sa Torre. It has a wonderful atmosphere, a fantastic climate and I find the people charming. I think Palma is one of the most beautiful cities in the world”.
His study, he explained at the time, was “literally carved into a cliff overlooking the sea”. For Archer, it was “an absolutely ideal place to write”.
Jeffrey Archer’s final novel
During that conversation with Mallorca Global Mag, Archer also revealed his plans to bring his career to an end. “I have one more novel to write before I retire, which will be published next October”, he explained.
That novel was Adam and Eve, published on 6 October, just one day after his death. The writer himself explained at the time that the idea had emerged from a speech given by Adolf Hitler in 1936 and Winston Churchill’s response, which led him to research the development of the Second World War.
Read the full Mallorca Global Mag interview with Jeffrey Archer here.
One day before his death, Archer had still been meeting readers in London, where he signed copies of his final book.
A career spanning almost 50 years
Born in London in 1940, Jeffrey Archer published his first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, in 1976. His major international breakthrough came with Kane and Abel, published in 1979, followed by numerous novels, short-story collections and series including The Clifton Chronicles and the William Warwick series.
His life was also closely linked to British politics. He was a Conservative MP and held various positions within the party, as well as serving as a member of the House of Lords. His political career was marked by several controversies and a conviction for perjury in 2001, for which he spent two years in prison.
Literature, however, remained a constant. When Mallorca Global Mag asked him what he considered the greatest achievement of his career, Archer was clear: “Working with Margaret Thatcher was important, raising 72 million as a charity auctioneer was too, but nothing beats reaching number one on the New York Times Best Seller list”.
Almost 50 years after publishing his first novel, Jeffrey Archer continued writing until his final moments. Part of that extensive body of work was created overlooking the Mediterranean, from the study of his home in Sa Torre, with Mallorca serving as one of his main literary retreats for three decades.
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