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Adam and Eve
THE ULTIMATE TALE OF COURAGE AND SACRIFICE FROM THE MASTER STORYTELLER
November 11th, 1918. As the guns of the First World War fall silent, two babies draw their first breath.
Eve is the daughter of an Earl. Adam, a shepherd's son. Yet from their first meeting they form an extraordinary bond that neither privilege nor prejudice can break.
Then on a single September night in 1940, as Hitler prepares to invade the British Isles, their actions will change his mind. Determining not just their own futures but the fate of a nation.
They will show extraordinary courage. They will make unimaginable sacrifices. And the story of what they did will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
From the green fields of England to the beaches of Dunkirk, Adam & Eve is a breathtaking epic of courage, sacrifice, and love forged in Britain's darkest hour.
"This book is 462 pages of master storytelling, yarn weaving and twist-turning that flies by. I shed a quiet tear when his swan-song of an epic came to an end." Chris Evans
"An enthralling tale perfect for fans of history, romance and suspense." Kirkus
"There are few writers who can tell the kind of epic-scale stories that he seems to spin so effortlessly." Booklist
"This is an exhilarating send-off." Publishers Weekly
"A storyteller in the class of Alexandre Dumas." Washington Post
"One of the top ten storytellers in the world." Los Angeles Times
"Archer is a master entertainer." Time
November 11th, 1918. As the guns of the First World War fall silent, two babies draw their first breath.
Eve is the daughter of an Earl. Adam, a shepherd's son. Yet from their first meeting they form an extraordinary bond that neither privilege nor prejudice can break.
Then on a single September night in 1940, as Hitler prepares to invade the British Isles, their actions will change his mind. Determining not just their own futures but the fate of a nation.
They will show extraordinary courage. They will make unimaginable sacrifices. And the story of what they did will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
From the green fields of England to the beaches of Dunkirk, Adam & Eve is a breathtaking epic of courage, sacrifice, and love forged in Britain's darkest hour.
"This book is 462 pages of master storytelling, yarn weaving and twist-turning that flies by. I shed a quiet tear when his swan-song of an epic came to an end." Chris Evans
"An enthralling tale perfect for fans of history, romance and suspense." Kirkus
"There are few writers who can tell the kind of epic-scale stories that he seems to spin so effortlessly." Booklist
"This is an exhilarating send-off." Publishers Weekly
"A storyteller in the class of Alexandre Dumas." Washington Post
"One of the top ten storytellers in the world." Los Angeles Times
"Archer is a master entertainer." Time
469 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2026
About the author
Jeffrey Archer
676 books13.1k followersJeffrey is published in 114 countries and more than 47 languages, with more than 750,000 5* reviews with international sales passing 275 million copies.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey was married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divided their time among homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey was married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divided their time among homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
October 18, 2026
EXCERPT: Two dinner parties were taking place at the same time just a mile away from each other, and both were enjoying a vintage wine that had come from the same cellar.
The King raised a glass of Chateau Margaux 1934 in memory of his old friend, while Voctoria sampled a sip of one of her husband's favorite clarets.
The guests chatted as the first course was served.
Only two people knew what was going to happen next.
One of them lit a match.
ABOUT 'ADAM AND EVE': November 11th, 1918. As the guns of the Great War fall silent, two babies draw their first breath.
Eve is the daughter of an Earl. Adam, a shepherd's son. Yet from their first meeting they form an extraordinary bond that neither privilege nor prejudice can break.
Then on a single September night in 1940, as Hitler prepares to invade the British Isles, their actions will change his mind. Determining not just their own futures but the fate of a nation.
They will show extraordinary courage. They will make unimaginable sacrifices. And the story of what they did will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
MY THOUGHTS: I love the way Jeffrey Archer intertwines his fictional tales with real events and characters. I am bereft that this is Jeffrey Archer's final masterpiece. I shall miss his particular brand of storytelling.
As always, I was completely absorbed by the plot and enchanted by his characters. And, as always, I was left wondering just how much of the supposed 'fiction' is actually true. It would not surprise me if most, if not all, of it is.
A wonderful finale.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#AdamandEve #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Jeffrey Archer unfortunately passed away the day before the publication of Adam and Eve. Thank you, Mr Archer, for the many hours of reading pleasure you brought me.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers Australia via NetGalley for providing a Digital Review Copy of Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer. This review reflects my reading experience and all opinions expressed are my personal opinions.
The King raised a glass of Chateau Margaux 1934 in memory of his old friend, while Voctoria sampled a sip of one of her husband's favorite clarets.
The guests chatted as the first course was served.
Only two people knew what was going to happen next.
One of them lit a match.
ABOUT 'ADAM AND EVE': November 11th, 1918. As the guns of the Great War fall silent, two babies draw their first breath.
Eve is the daughter of an Earl. Adam, a shepherd's son. Yet from their first meeting they form an extraordinary bond that neither privilege nor prejudice can break.
Then on a single September night in 1940, as Hitler prepares to invade the British Isles, their actions will change his mind. Determining not just their own futures but the fate of a nation.
They will show extraordinary courage. They will make unimaginable sacrifices. And the story of what they did will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
MY THOUGHTS: I love the way Jeffrey Archer intertwines his fictional tales with real events and characters. I am bereft that this is Jeffrey Archer's final masterpiece. I shall miss his particular brand of storytelling.
As always, I was completely absorbed by the plot and enchanted by his characters. And, as always, I was left wondering just how much of the supposed 'fiction' is actually true. It would not surprise me if most, if not all, of it is.
A wonderful finale.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#AdamandEve #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Jeffrey Archer unfortunately passed away the day before the publication of Adam and Eve. Thank you, Mr Archer, for the many hours of reading pleasure you brought me.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers Australia via NetGalley for providing a Digital Review Copy of Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer. This review reflects my reading experience and all opinions expressed are my personal opinions.
October 10, 2026
A sweeping story of love and duty set against the backdrop of the estate next door to Sandringham.
This was my first read by Jeffrey Archer and his last book. He passed away the day before this title was released.
Some things that made this an amazing read:
👶Two babies are born on Armistice Day to very different economic classes. From the beginning, Adam (the shepherd's son) and Eve (the earl's daughter) find their paths crossing in many different ways.
📜Archer uses the backdrop of historical events and figures to bring the story of Adam and Eve to life. The Berlin Olympics, Winston Churchill, and the Dunkirk Rescue just to name a few.
✒Interwoven between the history is a darn good story! There are moments of great happiness and others of great despair. Through it all you will be rooting for Adam and Eve to make it to the altar.
♟The game of Chess plays an integral role in the story. Adam becomes a master and it will come in handy. The Earl enjoys a game here and there with someone he shouldn't.
📚This was such a great story that I will be checking out his back catalog for another read in the future.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Available as of October 6, 2026.
This was my first read by Jeffrey Archer and his last book. He passed away the day before this title was released.
Some things that made this an amazing read:
👶Two babies are born on Armistice Day to very different economic classes. From the beginning, Adam (the shepherd's son) and Eve (the earl's daughter) find their paths crossing in many different ways.
📜Archer uses the backdrop of historical events and figures to bring the story of Adam and Eve to life. The Berlin Olympics, Winston Churchill, and the Dunkirk Rescue just to name a few.
✒Interwoven between the history is a darn good story! There are moments of great happiness and others of great despair. Through it all you will be rooting for Adam and Eve to make it to the altar.
♟The game of Chess plays an integral role in the story. Adam becomes a master and it will come in handy. The Earl enjoys a game here and there with someone he shouldn't.
📚This was such a great story that I will be checking out his back catalog for another read in the future.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Available as of October 6, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
Adam, the son of a farm labourer on the Brancaster Estate and Eve, the Earl of Brancaster's daughter, are born on the same day - 11th November 1918. As they grow their lives become entwined as the adults in their lives encourage the healthy competition between the two.
However as the years pass the competition between the two develops into much deeper feelings and, as war looms again, the pair are thrown into a life together that they never imagined. But can their love survive the threat of war, betrayals and the loss of those they love or will the conflict tear them apart?
Jeffrey Archer said that this will be his last book and I have to admit to being disappointed by it. No doubt a huge amount of research has gone into this nearly 500 pager. However what starts out as a simple love story turns into a tale that I would describe as unbelievable at best and utterly absurd in places.
I cannot recall the number of times I laughed at the sheer ludicrousness of several plot points. If it had ended with one of the family hiding out in a Berlin bunker and putting an end to Hitler himself I would not have been surprised.
I feel almost cheated by the second half of the book because it's clear that Archer did put a lot of work into researching various war time plots and plans but it was all made laughable by the frankly bonkers coincidences that occurred to Adam and Eve.
However, I am in a tiny minority in my disappointment and, if you are able to suspend your disbelief for a lot of the second half of the novel then you will really enjoy it.
Jeffrey Archer certainly knows how to put a best seller together. He's been doing it for 50 years. The general plot trots along at a good pace. There are well defined goodies and baddies. The main characters are all likeable (although my absolute favourite was Mavis, one of the Land Girls) and the dialogue is easy.
So my advice is to not expect anything hard hitting and enjoy it for what it is: a fine enough page turner.
Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the digital review copy.
Adam, the son of a farm labourer on the Brancaster Estate and Eve, the Earl of Brancaster's daughter, are born on the same day - 11th November 1918. As they grow their lives become entwined as the adults in their lives encourage the healthy competition between the two.
However as the years pass the competition between the two develops into much deeper feelings and, as war looms again, the pair are thrown into a life together that they never imagined. But can their love survive the threat of war, betrayals and the loss of those they love or will the conflict tear them apart?
Jeffrey Archer said that this will be his last book and I have to admit to being disappointed by it. No doubt a huge amount of research has gone into this nearly 500 pager. However what starts out as a simple love story turns into a tale that I would describe as unbelievable at best and utterly absurd in places.
I cannot recall the number of times I laughed at the sheer ludicrousness of several plot points. If it had ended with one of the family hiding out in a Berlin bunker and putting an end to Hitler himself I would not have been surprised.
I feel almost cheated by the second half of the book because it's clear that Archer did put a lot of work into researching various war time plots and plans but it was all made laughable by the frankly bonkers coincidences that occurred to Adam and Eve.
However, I am in a tiny minority in my disappointment and, if you are able to suspend your disbelief for a lot of the second half of the novel then you will really enjoy it.
Jeffrey Archer certainly knows how to put a best seller together. He's been doing it for 50 years. The general plot trots along at a good pace. There are well defined goodies and baddies. The main characters are all likeable (although my absolute favourite was Mavis, one of the Land Girls) and the dialogue is easy.
So my advice is to not expect anything hard hitting and enjoy it for what it is: a fine enough page turner.
Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the digital review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a free copy of, Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. These are the Adam and Eve of the bible, this pair were born in the 1900's on the same day. This was a good read, unbelievable at times, at a dark time in European history.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hugely enjoyable historical drama overall about two people born on the same day, one from privilege, one from poverty and how their lives are intertwined as they grow up together and ultimately fall in love.
Set at the end of WW1 and running into WW2, the first three quarters of the book were an absolute joy to read as we spend time with all the characters including our main protagonists Adam and Eve. Despite obstacles and attempted sabotages, things seem to turn out well for them. So much so it did feel a little twee, but having said that the book read as a little light so I was ok with that.
The part I didn’t enjoy was the last act - the last 25% of the book where WW2 features and is the central theme. It felt like a completely different book. All of a sudden we are reading a war centric book with some quite ludicrous situations and story lines that absolutely killed the momentum and continuity of what had proceeded. Some of the storylines really grated as they were genuinely ridiculous and totally unbelievable.
Such a shame about the final quarter of this book as it was great up until then but fell off of the rails at that point for me.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the sheer enjoyment I had from the first three quarters.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Set at the end of WW1 and running into WW2, the first three quarters of the book were an absolute joy to read as we spend time with all the characters including our main protagonists Adam and Eve. Despite obstacles and attempted sabotages, things seem to turn out well for them. So much so it did feel a little twee, but having said that the book read as a little light so I was ok with that.
The part I didn’t enjoy was the last act - the last 25% of the book where WW2 features and is the central theme. It felt like a completely different book. All of a sudden we are reading a war centric book with some quite ludicrous situations and story lines that absolutely killed the momentum and continuity of what had proceeded. Some of the storylines really grated as they were genuinely ridiculous and totally unbelievable.
Such a shame about the final quarter of this book as it was great up until then but fell off of the rails at that point for me.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the sheer enjoyment I had from the first three quarters.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have read quite a few Jeffrey Archer books and have enjoyed them all – sadly, this will not be making my favourites list.
It’s 1918 and as the war draws to a close two new babies are born. Adam is a shepherd’s son with few prospects, while Eve is the daughter of the Earl who owns the estate where Adam’s parent’s work. Adam’s mother is a domestic at the Earl’s residence and is allowed to take Adam with her into the kitchens while he is still small. Adam is curious and has a fascination with books so is drawn to the Earl’s library. It isn’t long before the Earl is loaning books to Adam and the Dowager Countess is suggesting that Adam be educated in the nursery alongside Eve.
Initially competitive, the two come to respect each other and as they grow respect blossoms into love. However, dark clouds are gathering on the horizon in the form of the Dowager Countess’ illness, the arrival of Martin Fisher and war with Germany looming…
Spoilers ahead!
Ok, I love the concept and the idea and I did enjoy the initial chapters. However, I found myself having to repeatedly suspend my belief. When Adam and Eve develop their relationship into dating, I personally find it unlikely that this kind of relationship would be allowed between the classes at this time – and there is no mention of Eve ever being presented as a debutante at Court, which she certainly would have been. The events become more fanciful as time passes: Adam and Eve get engaged in a convoluted plot involving a chess mess between Adam and the would-be replacement, Martin Fisher. The match dissolves into ridiculousness when the match is a 1 – 1 draw (what else!) so they have to play a deciding game, here Martin is plied with wine by the Earl while Adam is drinking Raspberry Cordial as the Earl prefers the farmers son to the Foreign Office working Martin.
The number of obstacles to this wedding that are thrown into their path stretches the joke a bit too much. Yes, it is war and yes people did get shipped off overseas at a moments notice...but, this doesn't just happen once, it happens repeatedly! Eve soon discovers she is pregnant and everyone is delighted! Because, in 1930’s Britain every landed Earl was desperate for an illegitimate Grandchild! Adam soon gets to hear about it and is being shipped home to get married. For the second time, the night before the wedding fate intervenes, this time in the shape of a German attack force. Adam is injured and finally awakes to find that the German who has attacked him and who he has in turn shot, is none other than Hans, his friend from Oxford. A dying Hans has long enough to change uniforms with Adam, warn him about a Panzer division just over the hill and hand over some letters for his wife.
This time, word gets home that Adam has been killed and his body is being shipped back home. Not one to let the grass grow, the Earl suggests that Eve marries Martin instead so that the baby she is carrying will have a name – Eve agrees and a wedding is arranged….again! On the day of this wedding, Adam's body arrives home and is found to not actually be Adam at all. Cue a panicked phone call to the Butler who rushes to the church to stop the wedding and shocking the bride into giving birth. Adam was actually in a German hospital and escaping Germany for Switzerland where a chance encounter on a train leads him to becoming a member of MI6 and helping to foil a plot to kill the King and install Prince Edward and Mrs Simpson as King and Queen.
Adam and Eve plan yet another wedding that is foiled by the untimely death of the Earl and the revelation that Martin Fisher is a German spy. The destruction of Brancaster Hall by the Luftwaffe during a raid that is meant to kill the King also adds further delays to the wedding.
In my opinion, the story was too convoluted and stretched credulity to snapping point once too often. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either and ultimately I have felt a bit let down by this last novel of, what has been, an excellent writer.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s 1918 and as the war draws to a close two new babies are born. Adam is a shepherd’s son with few prospects, while Eve is the daughter of the Earl who owns the estate where Adam’s parent’s work. Adam’s mother is a domestic at the Earl’s residence and is allowed to take Adam with her into the kitchens while he is still small. Adam is curious and has a fascination with books so is drawn to the Earl’s library. It isn’t long before the Earl is loaning books to Adam and the Dowager Countess is suggesting that Adam be educated in the nursery alongside Eve.
Initially competitive, the two come to respect each other and as they grow respect blossoms into love. However, dark clouds are gathering on the horizon in the form of the Dowager Countess’ illness, the arrival of Martin Fisher and war with Germany looming…
Spoilers ahead!
Ok, I love the concept and the idea and I did enjoy the initial chapters. However, I found myself having to repeatedly suspend my belief. When Adam and Eve develop their relationship into dating, I personally find it unlikely that this kind of relationship would be allowed between the classes at this time – and there is no mention of Eve ever being presented as a debutante at Court, which she certainly would have been. The events become more fanciful as time passes: Adam and Eve get engaged in a convoluted plot involving a chess mess between Adam and the would-be replacement, Martin Fisher. The match dissolves into ridiculousness when the match is a 1 – 1 draw (what else!) so they have to play a deciding game, here Martin is plied with wine by the Earl while Adam is drinking Raspberry Cordial as the Earl prefers the farmers son to the Foreign Office working Martin.
The number of obstacles to this wedding that are thrown into their path stretches the joke a bit too much. Yes, it is war and yes people did get shipped off overseas at a moments notice...but, this doesn't just happen once, it happens repeatedly! Eve soon discovers she is pregnant and everyone is delighted! Because, in 1930’s Britain every landed Earl was desperate for an illegitimate Grandchild! Adam soon gets to hear about it and is being shipped home to get married. For the second time, the night before the wedding fate intervenes, this time in the shape of a German attack force. Adam is injured and finally awakes to find that the German who has attacked him and who he has in turn shot, is none other than Hans, his friend from Oxford. A dying Hans has long enough to change uniforms with Adam, warn him about a Panzer division just over the hill and hand over some letters for his wife.
This time, word gets home that Adam has been killed and his body is being shipped back home. Not one to let the grass grow, the Earl suggests that Eve marries Martin instead so that the baby she is carrying will have a name – Eve agrees and a wedding is arranged….again! On the day of this wedding, Adam's body arrives home and is found to not actually be Adam at all. Cue a panicked phone call to the Butler who rushes to the church to stop the wedding and shocking the bride into giving birth. Adam was actually in a German hospital and escaping Germany for Switzerland where a chance encounter on a train leads him to becoming a member of MI6 and helping to foil a plot to kill the King and install Prince Edward and Mrs Simpson as King and Queen.
Adam and Eve plan yet another wedding that is foiled by the untimely death of the Earl and the revelation that Martin Fisher is a German spy. The destruction of Brancaster Hall by the Luftwaffe during a raid that is meant to kill the King also adds further delays to the wedding.
In my opinion, the story was too convoluted and stretched credulity to snapping point once too often. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either and ultimately I have felt a bit let down by this last novel of, what has been, an excellent writer.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2026
In a Nutshell: The final epic saga from the master storyteller. Contains all hallmarks of his sagas: a great multi-decade storyline, interesting characters, mixture of real-life people and events with fictional elements, a steady dose of twists and turns, somewhat telling-intensive writing, some stretched coincidences, a memorable finale and ending. Might not be the best starting point for Archer newbies, but to Archer fans, this is a must-read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
There was a time (way before social media and Goodreads) when I didn't let any Jeffrey Archer novel slip by me. There was no other author whose books I purchased just on seeing their name on the cover. It's not like he is the most distinguished of writers. His style is quite straightforward, and his novels often contain the same elements: usually art, politics, stocks and shares, and business rivalries. But his plotting is always great and his books are entertainers. (Even better are his short stories. I firmly believe that his talent in short fiction is underrated.)
The onset of ARC reading in the last few years meant I fell behind on Archer's works. But when this book was publicized as Archer's final work, I knew I would read it, not just for nostalgia but also as a ‘Thank you’ to a writer who brought much joy to my younger years. What a swansong this turned out to be! A wonderful way to bid adieu to a writing career spanning fifty years.
I was going to wish Jeffrey Archer a long and happy retirement in my review, but when I was midway through this book, there came the news of his death just one day prior to its publication. I'm so sad that he didn't get to see the reception of readers to his final work or enjoy the retirement he deserved. But I am also glad he had the chance to complete this novel, giving us fans one last Archer saga and the chance to bid him a fond farewell.
Bookish Yays:
😍 Adam. A standard Archer character who is highly intelligent and learns everything almost instantly and earns his way upwards through a combination of luck and determination. But Adam is also different in that he knows his place in life and doesn’t misuse his later high position.
😍 Eve. While Adam is the typical Archer character, Eve is a wonderful surprise. Though born to a life of privilege, her passion lies not in parties or shopping or even in scholastic education but in animals and farming. I loved her clear-headed ambition and her propensity to take a challenge head-on.
😍 The positive secondary characters, especially the Earl, Victoria, Frampton, and Maisie. Even the minor positive characters are great.
😍 The love story. An integral part of the plot but never its main focus. The connection between the titular duo generates several strong emotions.
😍 The story as an epic saga, with a great combination of fact, fiction, and alternate history.
😍 The deft handling of the shifting third-person POV across so many characters.
😍 The regular twists, not common in saga novels. I enjoyed the ride even though some of the surprises could be anticipated.
😍 The pacing, neither too fast nor too slow. Despite the length, the story flows mostly smoothly.
😍 The ending. My oh my!
Bookish Okays:
😐 The coincidences. These are par for the course in Archer saga novels, but a couple of them were too farfetched to accept with eyerolling.
😐 Lot of telling. Then again, this book comes from an old-school writer, and this style is typical of many other authors of this generation.
😐 The negative secondary characters. Mostly stock portrayals with only one of them having any layers.
Bookish Nays:
😥 The Patricia subplot. The weakest link in an otherwise stellar plotting.
😥 The blurb reveals too much. The first 50-60% doesn’t even touch WWII.
Overall, this novel delivered exactly what I have come to expect from Jeffrey Archer, both in its positives and negatives. Despite the datedness of the writing style, I enjoyed myself. After all, one doesn't read Archer for his writing style but for his plots and characters. He sticks to what he knows, and does a good job of it.
Would I recommend this book as a good starting point for Archer's oeuvre? Probably no. As an Archer fan, I know that he's not been at his peak in recent years and his latest novels are his weakest ones. This novel is mainly for us sentimental fans0. To those wishing to try an Archer saga for the first time, I’d recommend ‘Kane & Abel’ and ‘As the Crow Flies’ before trying this one. Despite the similarity of having biblical-toned names and being epic sagas, ‘Adam & Eve’ is not like Archer’s masterpiece ‘Kane & Abel’. It isn't about rivalry or one-upmanship but about how opposites can unite and be better for each other.
Definitely recommended to Archer fans looking for one last epic saga from the master plotter. You won't regret it.
4 stars.
My thanks to Harper 360, HarperCollins UK, and HarperFiction for providing the DRC of “Adam & Eve” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
1918. On the day the armistice was signed to bring the Great War to an end, two children were born. One, the daughter of an Earl. The other, the son of a shepherd. In an ordinary world, their paths might not even have intersected, but given the former’s fondness for all things on the farm and the latter’s predilection for books, their worlds soon overlap. Thus starts a saga that begins at the end of one world war, and escalates with the initiation of the other world war.
The story comes to us in the third-person perspectives of multiple characters and spans from 1918 to the 1940s.
There was a time (way before social media and Goodreads) when I didn't let any Jeffrey Archer novel slip by me. There was no other author whose books I purchased just on seeing their name on the cover. It's not like he is the most distinguished of writers. His style is quite straightforward, and his novels often contain the same elements: usually art, politics, stocks and shares, and business rivalries. But his plotting is always great and his books are entertainers. (Even better are his short stories. I firmly believe that his talent in short fiction is underrated.)
The onset of ARC reading in the last few years meant I fell behind on Archer's works. But when this book was publicized as Archer's final work, I knew I would read it, not just for nostalgia but also as a ‘Thank you’ to a writer who brought much joy to my younger years. What a swansong this turned out to be! A wonderful way to bid adieu to a writing career spanning fifty years.
I was going to wish Jeffrey Archer a long and happy retirement in my review, but when I was midway through this book, there came the news of his death just one day prior to its publication. I'm so sad that he didn't get to see the reception of readers to his final work or enjoy the retirement he deserved. But I am also glad he had the chance to complete this novel, giving us fans one last Archer saga and the chance to bid him a fond farewell.
Bookish Yays:
😍 Adam. A standard Archer character who is highly intelligent and learns everything almost instantly and earns his way upwards through a combination of luck and determination. But Adam is also different in that he knows his place in life and doesn’t misuse his later high position.
😍 Eve. While Adam is the typical Archer character, Eve is a wonderful surprise. Though born to a life of privilege, her passion lies not in parties or shopping or even in scholastic education but in animals and farming. I loved her clear-headed ambition and her propensity to take a challenge head-on.
😍 The positive secondary characters, especially the Earl, Victoria, Frampton, and Maisie. Even the minor positive characters are great.
😍 The love story. An integral part of the plot but never its main focus. The connection between the titular duo generates several strong emotions.
😍 The story as an epic saga, with a great combination of fact, fiction, and alternate history.
😍 The deft handling of the shifting third-person POV across so many characters.
😍 The regular twists, not common in saga novels. I enjoyed the ride even though some of the surprises could be anticipated.
😍 The pacing, neither too fast nor too slow. Despite the length, the story flows mostly smoothly.
😍 The ending. My oh my!
Bookish Okays:
😐 The coincidences. These are par for the course in Archer saga novels, but a couple of them were too farfetched to accept with eyerolling.
😐 Lot of telling. Then again, this book comes from an old-school writer, and this style is typical of many other authors of this generation.
😐 The negative secondary characters. Mostly stock portrayals with only one of them having any layers.
Bookish Nays:
😥 The Patricia subplot. The weakest link in an otherwise stellar plotting.
😥 The blurb reveals too much. The first 50-60% doesn’t even touch WWII.
Overall, this novel delivered exactly what I have come to expect from Jeffrey Archer, both in its positives and negatives. Despite the datedness of the writing style, I enjoyed myself. After all, one doesn't read Archer for his writing style but for his plots and characters. He sticks to what he knows, and does a good job of it.
Would I recommend this book as a good starting point for Archer's oeuvre? Probably no. As an Archer fan, I know that he's not been at his peak in recent years and his latest novels are his weakest ones. This novel is mainly for us sentimental fans0. To those wishing to try an Archer saga for the first time, I’d recommend ‘Kane & Abel’ and ‘As the Crow Flies’ before trying this one. Despite the similarity of having biblical-toned names and being epic sagas, ‘Adam & Eve’ is not like Archer’s masterpiece ‘Kane & Abel’. It isn't about rivalry or one-upmanship but about how opposites can unite and be better for each other.
Definitely recommended to Archer fans looking for one last epic saga from the master plotter. You won't regret it.
4 stars.
My thanks to Harper 360, HarperCollins UK, and HarperFiction for providing the DRC of “Adam & Eve” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This final book of Jeffrey Archer's was good but, not as good as his others. At times it dragged and I struggled to get through it. Maybe yes, it's time to stop writing. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
October 24, 2026
I like this author and will read pretty much anything he puts out there. He is a solid 4 stars for me. I enjoy settling into the stories writtien by Archer. I love his storytelling and his writing style.
He creates great characters. They are funny, charming, scheming, and surprising. All good things. He also creates a great story line that keeps things from getting stagnant. And he isn't afraid to "off" a beloved character to create tension and dimension.
This one felt like a love story. While that really isn't my thing when it comes to reading, Archer nails the character development in such a way that I find I'm fully in and I care about the MCs like they are family. So, 4.5 stars for this one.
He creates great characters. They are funny, charming, scheming, and surprising. All good things. He also creates a great story line that keeps things from getting stagnant. And he isn't afraid to "off" a beloved character to create tension and dimension.
This one felt like a love story. While that really isn't my thing when it comes to reading, Archer nails the character development in such a way that I find I'm fully in and I care about the MCs like they are family. So, 4.5 stars for this one.
October 21, 2026
shamefully this was my first read of a Jeffrey Archer book, but I'll be happily going back over his other work having thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience of his work! May he RIP!
This is the story of 2 people from different backgrounds born on the same day and how their lives intertwine - Eve the daughter of an Earl, and Adam the son of a shepherd. And it describes their lives over a number of years, and very important historical events and changes in the world.
Their personalities aren't what you expect them to be, so that was a really fascinating aspect of the story and I loved the 'what if' scenarios that we got to follow as they navigate childhood, the teenage years and adulthood with different experiences ahead of them both. Adam was always the scholarly one, but as the son of a shepherd his academic life wasn't guaranteed. And Eve, as a woman, was expected to marry well, but her love was really spending time outdoors.. It's a real emotional rollercoaster watching over their lives and I found myself totally engrossed in the drama.
This is the story of 2 people from different backgrounds born on the same day and how their lives intertwine - Eve the daughter of an Earl, and Adam the son of a shepherd. And it describes their lives over a number of years, and very important historical events and changes in the world.
Their personalities aren't what you expect them to be, so that was a really fascinating aspect of the story and I loved the 'what if' scenarios that we got to follow as they navigate childhood, the teenage years and adulthood with different experiences ahead of them both. Adam was always the scholarly one, but as the son of a shepherd his academic life wasn't guaranteed. And Eve, as a woman, was expected to marry well, but her love was really spending time outdoors.. It's a real emotional rollercoaster watching over their lives and I found myself totally engrossed in the drama.
November 3, 2026
What a saga! A story which unfurls and climbs like an exponential graph. After much ground work is laid covering off the family history, the last third of the book takes flight with mystery, espionage, action and bravery.
Full RTC
Full RTC
September 29, 2026
I enjoyed diving into Jeffrey Archer’s (apparently final novel) Adam and Eve. It’s been years since I read this author, and I enjoyed dipping back into sweeping historical drama.
Mr Archer paces the story well, no surprise. You’ll enjoy a steady, gripping momentum across the decades, ensuring plot turns emotional milestone feel organic and compelling.
You’ll enjoy, too, seeing the characters uniquely placed inside an immersive combination of real and fictional events. Following Adam, the son of a shepherd, and Eve, the daughter of an earl, as their lives unfold against the backdrop of world-altering history gives the narrative the sense of scale you’d expect. Their parallel paths converge and impact each other, as the author weaves historical realities seamlessly with intimate personal drama.
A few minor plot developments felt slightly conventional towards the middle, for me; otherwise, this is a well-crafted novel that reminds us why Jeffrey Archer has earned his reputation as a master storyteller.
Thank you to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to live impactful days in this ARC.
Mr Archer paces the story well, no surprise. You’ll enjoy a steady, gripping momentum across the decades, ensuring plot turns emotional milestone feel organic and compelling.
You’ll enjoy, too, seeing the characters uniquely placed inside an immersive combination of real and fictional events. Following Adam, the son of a shepherd, and Eve, the daughter of an earl, as their lives unfold against the backdrop of world-altering history gives the narrative the sense of scale you’d expect. Their parallel paths converge and impact each other, as the author weaves historical realities seamlessly with intimate personal drama.
A few minor plot developments felt slightly conventional towards the middle, for me; otherwise, this is a well-crafted novel that reminds us why Jeffrey Archer has earned his reputation as a master storyteller.
Thank you to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to live impactful days in this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would like to thank Jeffrey Archer, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for my advanced copy of Adam and Eve to review. As always, my review is entirely honest & there are no spoilers.
My Review:
Adam and Eve starts with all the hallmarks of Jeffrey Archer’s usual strengths: pace, clarity, and a premise that promises moral tension. For most of the book, it’s competent, readable, and engaging enough. He breaks all the rules like the master storyteller he undoubtedly is.
My problem:
The first twist is where everything collapses. Archer tries to deliver a shock reversal, but it’s so implausible, so unbelievable, and so coincidental that I found myself shaking my head in disbelief.
Then a strange swap takes place, and instead of deepening the narrative, it cheapens it. Worse still, other twists pile on top of the first one, and each one is less believable than the first.
Why it didn’t work for me:
To be fair to Archer, all the signs are there from the start of the novel that the twists are possible. However, the issue for me was that I found them utterly unbelievable and the result felt contrived rather than clever.
My overall impression:
The book is readable; Archer always is, but the ending leaves a sour aftertaste. It’s hard to recommend a novel whose twists undermine the entire structure. Readers who enjoy neat reversals may tolerate it; anyone who values believable character development will likely find it frustrating.
My verdict:
This was a solid setup undone by twists that ask too much and delivers too little. This is a two-star review because I could not finish it.
To read more about this book and the author, visit: https://nicolaharrisauthor.com/
My Review:
Adam and Eve starts with all the hallmarks of Jeffrey Archer’s usual strengths: pace, clarity, and a premise that promises moral tension. For most of the book, it’s competent, readable, and engaging enough. He breaks all the rules like the master storyteller he undoubtedly is.
My problem:
The first twist is where everything collapses. Archer tries to deliver a shock reversal, but it’s so implausible, so unbelievable, and so coincidental that I found myself shaking my head in disbelief.
Then a strange swap takes place, and instead of deepening the narrative, it cheapens it. Worse still, other twists pile on top of the first one, and each one is less believable than the first.
Why it didn’t work for me:
To be fair to Archer, all the signs are there from the start of the novel that the twists are possible. However, the issue for me was that I found them utterly unbelievable and the result felt contrived rather than clever.
My overall impression:
The book is readable; Archer always is, but the ending leaves a sour aftertaste. It’s hard to recommend a novel whose twists undermine the entire structure. Readers who enjoy neat reversals may tolerate it; anyone who values believable character development will likely find it frustrating.
My verdict:
This was a solid setup undone by twists that ask too much and delivers too little. This is a two-star review because I could not finish it.
To read more about this book and the author, visit: https://nicolaharrisauthor.com/
October 18, 2026
Аз съм страстна почитателка на Джефри Арчър още от момента, в който прочетох първия му роман "Нито пени повече, нито пени по-малко" , чак до тази последна книга. Повече от 30 години чаках с нетърпение новите му книги и ги четях с голямо удоволствие. Не мога да повярвам, че това ще бъде последният роман на лорд Арчър. Любимите ми книги са "Каин и Авел" и
Хрониките на Клифтън. Този стил предпочитам пред криминалните му романи - добри са, но не ми доставяха същото удоволствие.
Според мен лорд Арчър умее да пише увлекателни, динамични романи, от които човек просто не може да се откъсне. И последната му книга не прави изключение. Не можех да я оставя, прочетох я почти на един дъх, защото непрекъснато исках да разбера какво ще се случи по-нататък. Достоен прощален роман от един майстор разказвач! Точно както в "Каин и Авел" отново има библейска препратка - този път към Адам и Ева и тема, която преодолява всички социални различия и предразсъдъци. С "Адам и Ева" Арчър отново ми напомни любимия ми "Каин и Авел".❤️ Вдъхновението за книгата идва от изказвания на Адолф Хитлер и Уинстън Чърчил. Четох някъде, че на своя уебсайт Арчър посочва точка по точка кое в романа е истина и кое не е.
Историята започва в деня, когато през 1918 година оръдията замлъкват и Голямата война приключва. Тогава се раждат Ева, дъщерята на граф и Адам, син на пастир. Ако познавате сагата "Клифтън" ще откриете в последния му роман много от елементите, които я изграждат: история на английско семейство, проследена отвъд класовите граници и Втората световна война като изпитание за героите. Това е мащабен, епичен роман. Семейна сага с доста необичаен сюжет. Историята обхваща около 35 години и завършва с Втората световна война. Адам и Ева са невероятни герои и беше истинско удоволствие да проследявам развитието на връзката им през годините. Изживях цяла палитра от емоции - шпионаж, предателство, ревност, омраза, любов, сватби, погребения, смърт, алчност, преданост, саможертва.❤️
Сюжетът е изключително интересен с множество преплетени линии, които се следват с лекота и е изпълнен с неочаквани обрати. Героите са изградени великолепно, сякаш са хора, които познаваш лично. Погледът към историческите събития и влиянието им върху обществото е завладяващ. Описанията на бойното поле отново са толкова автентични, че сякаш се намираме там. Почти усещаш въздуха в Норфолк. Това е всичко необходимо за едно незабравимо читателско преживяване.
Джефри Арчър е майстор на разказването на истории. Това се дължи на умението му да вплита действителни исторически събития в книгите си по напълно естествен и плавен начин. В книгата той пресъздава събития като Олимпийските игри в Берлин през 1936 година, възхода на Хитлер. Доколкото познанията за войната ми позволяват да преценя, авторът щателно е проучил събитията и умело е постигнал историческа достоверност в рамките на повествованието. В сюжета са вплетени исторически личности - Хитлер и Чърчил, кралското семейство - великолепно съчетание от история и художествена литература. Човек започва да вярва, че героите му наистина са съществували. И знаете ли , четейки усещах гордостта на автора от своето произведение.
Както винаги, романът се чете леко и увлекателно. Действието се развива бързо, има много вълнуващи моменти, множество изненади и великолепен финал, изпълнен с напрежение. Истинско литературно удоволствие! Джефри Арчър отново успя да ме разплаче.❤️ Това е класически Джефри Арчър и ми беше тъжно, когато стигнах до края.❤️
Макар и вероятно да не е най-добрата му книга, този роман напълно заслужава 5⭐️. Прочетете последния роман на лорд Арчър- няма да останете разочаровани. А ако не сте чели нищо от автора, сигурна съм, че след "Адам и Ева" ще поискате да прочетете всичките му книги.🙂 Щастлива съм, че лорд Арчър ми е подарил безбройни часове удоволствие през годините. Много ще ми липсва. Да почива в мир!❤️
Хрониките на Клифтън. Този стил предпочитам пред криминалните му романи - добри са, но не ми доставяха същото удоволствие.
Според мен лорд Арчър умее да пише увлекателни, динамични романи, от които човек просто не може да се откъсне. И последната му книга не прави изключение. Не можех да я оставя, прочетох я почти на един дъх, защото непрекъснато исках да разбера какво ще се случи по-нататък. Достоен прощален роман от един майстор разказвач! Точно както в "Каин и Авел" отново има библейска препратка - този път към Адам и Ева и тема, която преодолява всички социални различия и предразсъдъци. С "Адам и Ева" Арчър отново ми напомни любимия ми "Каин и Авел".❤️ Вдъхновението за книгата идва от изказвания на Адолф Хитлер и Уинстън Чърчил. Четох някъде, че на своя уебсайт Арчър посочва точка по точка кое в романа е истина и кое не е.
Историята започва в деня, когато през 1918 година оръдията замлъкват и Голямата война приключва. Тогава се раждат Ева, дъщерята на граф и Адам, син на пастир. Ако познавате сагата "Клифтън" ще откриете в последния му роман много от елементите, които я изграждат: история на английско семейство, проследена отвъд класовите граници и Втората световна война като изпитание за героите. Това е мащабен, епичен роман. Семейна сага с доста необичаен сюжет. Историята обхваща около 35 години и завършва с Втората световна война. Адам и Ева са невероятни герои и беше истинско удоволствие да проследявам развитието на връзката им през годините. Изживях цяла палитра от емоции - шпионаж, предателство, ревност, омраза, любов, сватби, погребения, смърт, алчност, преданост, саможертва.❤️
Сюжетът е изключително интересен с множество преплетени линии, които се следват с лекота и е изпълнен с неочаквани обрати. Героите са изградени великолепно, сякаш са хора, които познаваш лично. Погледът към историческите събития и влиянието им върху обществото е завладяващ. Описанията на бойното поле отново са толкова автентични, че сякаш се намираме там. Почти усещаш въздуха в Норфолк. Това е всичко необходимо за едно незабравимо читателско преживяване.
Джефри Арчър е майстор на разказването на истории. Това се дължи на умението му да вплита действителни исторически събития в книгите си по напълно естествен и плавен начин. В книгата той пресъздава събития като Олимпийските игри в Берлин през 1936 година, възхода на Хитлер. Доколкото познанията за войната ми позволяват да преценя, авторът щателно е проучил събитията и умело е постигнал историческа достоверност в рамките на повествованието. В сюжета са вплетени исторически личности - Хитлер и Чърчил, кралското семейство - великолепно съчетание от история и художествена литература. Човек започва да вярва, че героите му наистина са съществували. И знаете ли , четейки усещах гордостта на автора от своето произведение.
Както винаги, романът се чете леко и увлекателно. Действието се развива бързо, има много вълнуващи моменти, множество изненади и великолепен финал, изпълнен с напрежение. Истинско литературно удоволствие! Джефри Арчър отново успя да ме разплаче.❤️ Това е класически Джефри Арчър и ми беше тъжно, когато стигнах до края.❤️
Макар и вероятно да не е най-добрата му книга, този роман напълно заслужава 5⭐️. Прочетете последния роман на лорд Арчър- няма да останете разочаровани. А ако не сте чели нищо от автора, сигурна съм, че след "Адам и Ева" ще поискате да прочетете всичките му книги.🙂 Щастлива съм, че лорд Арчър ми е подарил безбройни часове удоволствие през годините. Много ще ми липсва. Да почива в мир!❤️
October 26, 2026
Wow. Great, great book... with a tight - and complex - plot.
Jeffrey Archer is a master of building highly likable (or...uh... despicable) characters that interact with great skill... in this case the central (likable) characters were Lady Evelina and Adam Preston who were born on the same day (11/11/1918). The twist is that Eve is the daughter of a British Earl that hobnobs with the King and Adam is the son of the Earl's head shepherd in an era when one's class defines one's opportunities.
I won't spoil ANY of the amazing turns and twists of the book. My only conundrum with Archer's books is whether I like this book better than my previous favorite book, Kane and Abel. The only thing I'm sure of is that Archer is my favorite author and I'll be looking to read more of his books in the immediate future and would encourage you to do the same. :)
Jeffrey Archer is a master of building highly likable (or...uh... despicable) characters that interact with great skill... in this case the central (likable) characters were Lady Evelina and Adam Preston who were born on the same day (11/11/1918). The twist is that Eve is the daughter of a British Earl that hobnobs with the King and Adam is the son of the Earl's head shepherd in an era when one's class defines one's opportunities.
I won't spoil ANY of the amazing turns and twists of the book. My only conundrum with Archer's books is whether I like this book better than my previous favorite book, Kane and Abel. The only thing I'm sure of is that Archer is my favorite author and I'll be looking to read more of his books in the immediate future and would encourage you to do the same. :)
October 16, 2026
Audio. Excellent.
Master class in writing.
Cited:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” - Edmond Burke
Master class in writing.
Cited:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” - Edmond Burke
October 11, 2026
I was thrilled to bits when I heard about Adam and Eve, a book that was already planned to be Jeffrey Archer’s final book and which sadly ended up being published the day after he died. Kane and Abel, which I read many years ago, has a kind of elevated status in my memories due to how brilliant it is and Adam and Eve seemed like a return to the same kind of storyline.
Adam and Eve are born on the same day, the day of the Armistice in 1918. That’s where the similarities end as Adam is a shepherd’s son and Eve is the daughter of an Earl, on whose estate Adam’s parents work. Nevertheless, the pair are brought up together and they become close. Much of the book is about their different paths through life and their relationship to each other, until WWII breaks out and then it becomes a story of espionage and derring-do.
I’m torn on my feelings about this book. On the one hand, it romps along at a fine pace and it’s very readable, but on the other hand, it did feel quite cliched at times and I had a number of ‘oh come on’ moments when I just didn’t believe that the characters, particularly an Earl and a Dowager Countess in the 1920s and 30s, would have behaved in the way they did.
There’s no doubting that Archer wrote a ripping yarn with this book and what an amazing legacy of a back catalogue he has left behind. Adam and Eve didn’t completely hit the spot for me but it’s still a twist-a-minute action-packed tale from a master storyteller.
Adam and Eve are born on the same day, the day of the Armistice in 1918. That’s where the similarities end as Adam is a shepherd’s son and Eve is the daughter of an Earl, on whose estate Adam’s parents work. Nevertheless, the pair are brought up together and they become close. Much of the book is about their different paths through life and their relationship to each other, until WWII breaks out and then it becomes a story of espionage and derring-do.
I’m torn on my feelings about this book. On the one hand, it romps along at a fine pace and it’s very readable, but on the other hand, it did feel quite cliched at times and I had a number of ‘oh come on’ moments when I just didn’t believe that the characters, particularly an Earl and a Dowager Countess in the 1920s and 30s, would have behaved in the way they did.
There’s no doubting that Archer wrote a ripping yarn with this book and what an amazing legacy of a back catalogue he has left behind. Adam and Eve didn’t completely hit the spot for me but it’s still a twist-a-minute action-packed tale from a master storyteller.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ADAM AND EVE by Jeffrey Archer ........Having read all of Jeffrey Archer’s books, I looked forward to Adam and Eve as Lord Jeffrey Archer said this is his final book. While I have enjoyed all of his books, Adam and Eve proved to be a bit disappointing. Did I enjoy the book …. Yes ….but not as much as most of his other works. Had this been the first book I had read by this author, my review may have been different. He remains a master of historical fiction that crosses generations and classes. Should he come out of retirement and publish another book I’ll be first in line,
Adam and Evelina are born on the same day just hours apart on Armistice Day 1918. They come from very different backgrounds. When their paths cross, Eve treats Adam poorly even as Adam adores her from day one. In an unlikely pairing, the two grow to love each other and eventually are engaged. However, a series of difficult to believe circumstances keep preventing the actual wedding. As WWII looms, there are subplots with espionage thrown into the mix. The story line had too many situations, twists & turns, etc that just did not seem realistic. It seemed like the author tried to put everything, ultimately too much, into his last novel and fell a bit short. Still a solid 4 star rating. Just not the typical 5 star for his other books.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and of course Jeffrey Archer for the eARC.
Adam and Evelina are born on the same day just hours apart on Armistice Day 1918. They come from very different backgrounds. When their paths cross, Eve treats Adam poorly even as Adam adores her from day one. In an unlikely pairing, the two grow to love each other and eventually are engaged. However, a series of difficult to believe circumstances keep preventing the actual wedding. As WWII looms, there are subplots with espionage thrown into the mix. The story line had too many situations, twists & turns, etc that just did not seem realistic. It seemed like the author tried to put everything, ultimately too much, into his last novel and fell a bit short. Still a solid 4 star rating. Just not the typical 5 star for his other books.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and of course Jeffrey Archer for the eARC.
October 6, 2026
At eleven minutes past four on the morning of 11 November 1918, a village doctor is knocked out of bed and summoned to the great house. By breakfast, a countess is dead, an earl has a tiny premature daughter, and the word twin can never again be spoken under that roof. Later the same morning, in a thatched cottage on the estate, a shepherd's wife gives birth to a boy who opens his eyes and cries just as the church bells ring out for the Armistice. A Rolls-Royce and two Labradors on one side of the river; a Bullnose Morris and a collie on the other. Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer sets out its class contrast in the first chapter, and the reader knows exactly whose hands they are in.
They are in good hands for the last time. Jeffrey Archer died at his home on 5 October 2026, aged 86, the day before this novel was published. His publisher, HarperCollins, said he died suddenly and peacefully between writing sessions, only a day after meeting readers at a sold-out London event to launch the book, according to the Irish Times report of his death. The book opens with a letter to readers announcing that, after fifty years of storytelling, this would be his final novel. It has become a farewell in a way nobody planned.
Where Adam and Eve Sits in the Archer Canon
Archer published his first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, in 1976 and sold three thousand hardbacks. Three years later came Kane and Abel, two men born on the same day at opposite ends of society, and the formula that made him one of the bestselling novelists alive. His readers will recognise the shape of this book immediately. It is Kane and Abel moved to a Norfolk estate next door to Sandringham, with the same mirrored births and the same long rivalry that becomes something deeper.
It also borrows from the Clifton Chronicles, his seven-volume saga of a poor boy who wins a scholarship into a world that does not want him. Adam Preston, the shepherd's son, is a chess prodigy and a natural linguist who wins a place at the local grammar school and later at Trinity, Cambridge. Lady Evelina, who will insist on being called Eve, wants nothing more than to run her father's farms, which in 1930s England she is not supposed to want.
What Adam and Eve Adds
The novel's engine is a question Archer says he found in Hitler's and Churchill's speeches of 1940. On 15 September of that year, at the height of the Battle of Britain, Hitler wavered over Operation Sea Lion, his planned invasion of England. What if two ordinary young people had something to do with that decision? Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer spends four parts, each with its own dated span, getting there, and the payoff is worth the wait.
The four parts are cleanly divided. The first covers the childhood years to 1930 and is almost entirely free of war. The second, from 1933, takes in the abdication, the coronation and the Berlin Olympics, which Eve watches from the stands. The third is the Phoney War and the fall of France. The fourth, named for the invasion plan itself, compresses a single summer into its most tightly plotted pages. Within that structure, Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer moves from comedy of manners to espionage thriller without ever losing its warmth, though readers who come for the war should know that it takes a long time to arrive.
What works
The supporting cast is the best Archer has assembled in decades. The Dowager Countess, gin-drinking, secretly a friend of Emmeline Pankhurst and forever scheming on her family's behalf, steals every scene she is in. Frampton, the butler who irons The Times page by page, and his Sandringham counterpart, who meet every Monday for pints and royal gossip, form a comic double act that turns out to matter.
The set pieces are pure Archer. A village cricket match with the scorecard printed in full. A best-of-three chess contest for Eve's hand, refereed by her father. A disguise caper at an agricultural college entrance exam. A run across the Channel to Dunkirk in the family boat.
The diaries and letters give it texture. The two children are made to keep journals from the age of six, and Eve's spelling improves on the page as she grows. A chapter of alternating letters home from boarding school is a small delight.
The final third is relentless. From the summer of 1940 the chapters shorten, the cross-cutting tightens almost to the minute, and the convergence of plot lines is as absorbing as anything he wrote.
Where It Gives Ground
Coincidence carries a great deal of weight. People happen to be in the right doorway, on the right platform or in the right field at exactly the right moment. Archer readers expect it; newcomers may count.
The villains are broad. In Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer, nuance is reserved for the heroes. The wastrel younger brother, the feckless cousin and the Nazi high command are drawn in strong primary colours, and one antagonist explains his own cleverness at length.
The alternative history is gentler than the premise suggests. Do not expect an England under occupation. The divergence is a private one, and the wider war runs close to its real course.
The history is mostly sound but slips. The new king is briefly called Edward VII rather than VIII, and a late battle is placed somewhere British troops could not yet have been in 1940.
Do You Need to Know Jeffrey Archer First?
No. Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer is a standalone, and it is a fine place to start. But readers who grew up on Kane and Abel will get an extra pleasure from watching him return, at the very end, to the mirrored lives that made his name, and from the long dedication of the closing pages to the idea of service.
The Verdict
Archer was never a stylist. His prose is plain, his dialogue does the work, and every chapter ends on a hook. What he could do better than almost anyone was make you turn the page, and Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer shows the gift intact at eighty-six. It is warm, often very funny, unashamedly patriotic, and braver in its closing chapters than his admirers may expect.
He signed off his letter to readers by hoping they had found what they were second best at. He found the thing he was best at fifty years ago, and he kept doing it to the last page.
They are in good hands for the last time. Jeffrey Archer died at his home on 5 October 2026, aged 86, the day before this novel was published. His publisher, HarperCollins, said he died suddenly and peacefully between writing sessions, only a day after meeting readers at a sold-out London event to launch the book, according to the Irish Times report of his death. The book opens with a letter to readers announcing that, after fifty years of storytelling, this would be his final novel. It has become a farewell in a way nobody planned.
Where Adam and Eve Sits in the Archer Canon
Archer published his first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, in 1976 and sold three thousand hardbacks. Three years later came Kane and Abel, two men born on the same day at opposite ends of society, and the formula that made him one of the bestselling novelists alive. His readers will recognise the shape of this book immediately. It is Kane and Abel moved to a Norfolk estate next door to Sandringham, with the same mirrored births and the same long rivalry that becomes something deeper.
It also borrows from the Clifton Chronicles, his seven-volume saga of a poor boy who wins a scholarship into a world that does not want him. Adam Preston, the shepherd's son, is a chess prodigy and a natural linguist who wins a place at the local grammar school and later at Trinity, Cambridge. Lady Evelina, who will insist on being called Eve, wants nothing more than to run her father's farms, which in 1930s England she is not supposed to want.
What Adam and Eve Adds
The novel's engine is a question Archer says he found in Hitler's and Churchill's speeches of 1940. On 15 September of that year, at the height of the Battle of Britain, Hitler wavered over Operation Sea Lion, his planned invasion of England. What if two ordinary young people had something to do with that decision? Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer spends four parts, each with its own dated span, getting there, and the payoff is worth the wait.
The four parts are cleanly divided. The first covers the childhood years to 1930 and is almost entirely free of war. The second, from 1933, takes in the abdication, the coronation and the Berlin Olympics, which Eve watches from the stands. The third is the Phoney War and the fall of France. The fourth, named for the invasion plan itself, compresses a single summer into its most tightly plotted pages. Within that structure, Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer moves from comedy of manners to espionage thriller without ever losing its warmth, though readers who come for the war should know that it takes a long time to arrive.
What works
The supporting cast is the best Archer has assembled in decades. The Dowager Countess, gin-drinking, secretly a friend of Emmeline Pankhurst and forever scheming on her family's behalf, steals every scene she is in. Frampton, the butler who irons The Times page by page, and his Sandringham counterpart, who meet every Monday for pints and royal gossip, form a comic double act that turns out to matter.
The set pieces are pure Archer. A village cricket match with the scorecard printed in full. A best-of-three chess contest for Eve's hand, refereed by her father. A disguise caper at an agricultural college entrance exam. A run across the Channel to Dunkirk in the family boat.
The diaries and letters give it texture. The two children are made to keep journals from the age of six, and Eve's spelling improves on the page as she grows. A chapter of alternating letters home from boarding school is a small delight.
The final third is relentless. From the summer of 1940 the chapters shorten, the cross-cutting tightens almost to the minute, and the convergence of plot lines is as absorbing as anything he wrote.
Where It Gives Ground
Coincidence carries a great deal of weight. People happen to be in the right doorway, on the right platform or in the right field at exactly the right moment. Archer readers expect it; newcomers may count.
The villains are broad. In Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer, nuance is reserved for the heroes. The wastrel younger brother, the feckless cousin and the Nazi high command are drawn in strong primary colours, and one antagonist explains his own cleverness at length.
The alternative history is gentler than the premise suggests. Do not expect an England under occupation. The divergence is a private one, and the wider war runs close to its real course.
The history is mostly sound but slips. The new king is briefly called Edward VII rather than VIII, and a late battle is placed somewhere British troops could not yet have been in 1940.
Do You Need to Know Jeffrey Archer First?
No. Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer is a standalone, and it is a fine place to start. But readers who grew up on Kane and Abel will get an extra pleasure from watching him return, at the very end, to the mirrored lives that made his name, and from the long dedication of the closing pages to the idea of service.
The Verdict
Archer was never a stylist. His prose is plain, his dialogue does the work, and every chapter ends on a hook. What he could do better than almost anyone was make you turn the page, and Adam and Eve by Jeffrey Archer shows the gift intact at eighty-six. It is warm, often very funny, unashamedly patriotic, and braver in its closing chapters than his admirers may expect.
He signed off his letter to readers by hoping they had found what they were second best at. He found the thing he was best at fifty years ago, and he kept doing it to the last page.
October 27, 2026
How do you start describing a book that reminds you of the writing style that made you love with the art of reading books and savouring it?
Adam and Eve is yet another Jeffrey Archer successful book that makes you forget everything that you are doing and go dwell in the life of Adam and Eve the protagonists, both born on the same day in the midst of the ending of the First world war in Nov 2018 and then spending thier lives around each other, One EVE being the daughter of the Earl of Brancaster and truly living a life which was meant for an aristrocratic being. London being London, the monarchical structure was present and prevelant in that era.
What I Like about Jeffrey Archer is that he uses fiction in hsi books for the by gone era tighty woven aorund the facts that took place in that era and that is particularly the highlight of his way of writng a story. Having read his books Kane and Abel and Not a penny more and Not a peny less, I already look forward to his books with his quick wit and swift twists that keep on coming and make us pine for more.
Coming back to this book, The love story of Adam and Eve progresses naturally wihtout any drama between them and it was as if both knew they were destined for each other. Even though the caste system was very much prevelant in UK at that point of time, the fact that Charles the Earl gives equal respect to Adam on the basis of his intelligence and he saw the true potetial in him.
I loved reading the book which literally kept me awake in the late night excited to know what happes next when Adam and Eve are only a couple of hours away from getting married and Adam gets his leave cancelled as he is on the war front and is serving his responsibility to his own country.
We see the Mention of Adolf Hitler being addresses as Herr Fuherr and his invasion strategy over England and how Adam plays a very important role in averting the disaster looming over England just as the 2nd world war erupted.
There is a note also mentioned that there was an Lieuftenant Adam Preston who actually was present and served in the 2nd world war. A must read book especially for all Jeffrey Archer fans and for those who haven't read a book of Jeffrey archer yet, this is your chance to read this
Adam and Eve is yet another Jeffrey Archer successful book that makes you forget everything that you are doing and go dwell in the life of Adam and Eve the protagonists, both born on the same day in the midst of the ending of the First world war in Nov 2018 and then spending thier lives around each other, One EVE being the daughter of the Earl of Brancaster and truly living a life which was meant for an aristrocratic being. London being London, the monarchical structure was present and prevelant in that era.
What I Like about Jeffrey Archer is that he uses fiction in hsi books for the by gone era tighty woven aorund the facts that took place in that era and that is particularly the highlight of his way of writng a story. Having read his books Kane and Abel and Not a penny more and Not a peny less, I already look forward to his books with his quick wit and swift twists that keep on coming and make us pine for more.
Coming back to this book, The love story of Adam and Eve progresses naturally wihtout any drama between them and it was as if both knew they were destined for each other. Even though the caste system was very much prevelant in UK at that point of time, the fact that Charles the Earl gives equal respect to Adam on the basis of his intelligence and he saw the true potetial in him.
I loved reading the book which literally kept me awake in the late night excited to know what happes next when Adam and Eve are only a couple of hours away from getting married and Adam gets his leave cancelled as he is on the war front and is serving his responsibility to his own country.
We see the Mention of Adolf Hitler being addresses as Herr Fuherr and his invasion strategy over England and how Adam plays a very important role in averting the disaster looming over England just as the 2nd world war erupted.
There is a note also mentioned that there was an Lieuftenant Adam Preston who actually was present and served in the 2nd world war. A must read book especially for all Jeffrey Archer fans and for those who haven't read a book of Jeffrey archer yet, this is your chance to read this
November 2, 2026
Брилянтен роман на лорд Арчър пълни пет звезди
⚠️ Действието обхваща няколко десетилетия, през които светът се променя драматично. Арчър ни пренася от английската провинция до големите исторически събития, белязали Европа през първата половина на XX век. Възходът на Хитлер, Олимпийските игри в Берлин през 1936 година, Втората световна война – всичко това е вплетено толкова естествено в сюжета, че историята оживява пред очите ти.
Особено много ми хареса начинът, по който авторът съчетава действителни исторически личности и събития с измислените съдби на героите. Чърчил, Хитлер, британското кралско семейство – всички те са част от този свят, в който историята и художествената измислица се преплитат по великолепен начин.
Но най-силно ме докосна човешката страна на романа. Любовта, която не признава социални граници. Предаността, която се доказва в най-трудните моменти. Изборите, които понякога изискват огромна смелост. И онази непрекъсната борба между дълга и сърцето, която прави героите толкова близки и истински. ❤️
Сюжетът е изключително динамичен, с множество преплетени сюжетни линии, тайни, напрежение и обрати, които непрекъснато ме изненадваха. Тъкмо си мислех, че знам накъде ще поеме историята, и Арчър отново успяваше да ме изненада! А това е едно от нещата, които най-много обичам в книгите му.
Описанията са толкова живи, че сякаш усещах атмосферата на английската провинция, напрежението на военните години, страха, надеждата и несигурността на хората, чиито съдби зависят от събития, върху които нямат никаква власт.
Четох с огромно удоволствие, вълнувах се, тревожех се за героите, радвах се заедно с тях, а на моменти очите ми се пълнеха със сълзи. ❤️ Финалът е изключително въздействащ и емоционален, от онези, които те карат да затвориш книгата и още известно време да останеш с мислите си при героите.
„Адам и Ева“ е роман за любовта и омразата, за класовите различия, за честта, предателството и силата на човешкия дух. За това как историята променя съдбите на хората, но и как понякога най-силните чувства успяват да устоят на всичко.
⚠️ Действието обхваща няколко десетилетия, през които светът се променя драматично. Арчър ни пренася от английската провинция до големите исторически събития, белязали Европа през първата половина на XX век. Възходът на Хитлер, Олимпийските игри в Берлин през 1936 година, Втората световна война – всичко това е вплетено толкова естествено в сюжета, че историята оживява пред очите ти.
Особено много ми хареса начинът, по който авторът съчетава действителни исторически личности и събития с измислените съдби на героите. Чърчил, Хитлер, британското кралско семейство – всички те са част от този свят, в който историята и художествената измислица се преплитат по великолепен начин.
Но най-силно ме докосна човешката страна на романа. Любовта, която не признава социални граници. Предаността, която се доказва в най-трудните моменти. Изборите, които понякога изискват огромна смелост. И онази непрекъсната борба между дълга и сърцето, която прави героите толкова близки и истински. ❤️
Сюжетът е изключително динамичен, с множество преплетени сюжетни линии, тайни, напрежение и обрати, които непрекъснато ме изненадваха. Тъкмо си мислех, че знам накъде ще поеме историята, и Арчър отново успяваше да ме изненада! А това е едно от нещата, които най-много обичам в книгите му.
Описанията са толкова живи, че сякаш усещах атмосферата на английската провинция, напрежението на военните години, страха, надеждата и несигурността на хората, чиито съдби зависят от събития, върху които нямат никаква власт.
Четох с огромно удоволствие, вълнувах се, тревожех се за героите, радвах се заедно с тях, а на моменти очите ми се пълнеха със сълзи. ❤️ Финалът е изключително въздействащ и емоционален, от онези, които те карат да затвориш книгата и още известно време да останеш с мислите си при героите.
„Адам и Ева“ е роман за любовта и омразата, за класовите различия, за честта, предателството и силата на човешкия дух. За това как историята променя съдбите на хората, но и как понякога най-силните чувства успяват да устоят на всичко.
November 3, 2026
ADAM & EVE - JEFFERY ARCHER
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Thank you @tandemcollectiveglobal and @harpercollinsaustralia for having me on this amazing readalong!
This book was such an EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER! I was not prepared to be so happy, sad, proud and shocked multiple times!
It tells a story about two characters, Adam and Eve, between 1918-1940s and beyond. During this time we see them grow up and it's part coming-of-age and part a love story unfolding. On top of this, it is also about friendship and family. These characters are well developed and will steal your heart.
This book centres on WW2 which is totally up my alley as a history nerd. It is clear that the author did alot of research into events which made it more than just a story - it made the time period and our characters truly come to life for me. It was like he threw me into the midst of the war time and I felt dread multiple times.I believe my knowledge enhanced my reading experience, as so much of the emotional impact was in things there were not explicitly said. However, even if you don't know about this history - you are immediately sucked in and are given a plethora of knowledge based on what is written by Archer.
The plot was really clever and THERE WAS A MASSIVE TWIST. My jaw dropped as soon as something was revealed and it totally made this thriller girlie happy.
Jeffery Archer truly was a master at genre-blending historical fiction, contemporary romance and a bit of thriller with this novel. If you are craving a book that will truly move you, throw you into the action of times of the past, give you characters to love and will leave you crying at the end - this book is for you
This book will be one that will stick with me for a long time!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Thank you @tandemcollectiveglobal and @harpercollinsaustralia for having me on this amazing readalong!
This book was such an EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER! I was not prepared to be so happy, sad, proud and shocked multiple times!
It tells a story about two characters, Adam and Eve, between 1918-1940s and beyond. During this time we see them grow up and it's part coming-of-age and part a love story unfolding. On top of this, it is also about friendship and family. These characters are well developed and will steal your heart.
This book centres on WW2 which is totally up my alley as a history nerd. It is clear that the author did alot of research into events which made it more than just a story - it made the time period and our characters truly come to life for me. It was like he threw me into the midst of the war time and I felt dread multiple times.I believe my knowledge enhanced my reading experience, as so much of the emotional impact was in things there were not explicitly said. However, even if you don't know about this history - you are immediately sucked in and are given a plethora of knowledge based on what is written by Archer.
The plot was really clever and THERE WAS A MASSIVE TWIST. My jaw dropped as soon as something was revealed and it totally made this thriller girlie happy.
Jeffery Archer truly was a master at genre-blending historical fiction, contemporary romance and a bit of thriller with this novel. If you are craving a book that will truly move you, throw you into the action of times of the past, give you characters to love and will leave you crying at the end - this book is for you
This book will be one that will stick with me for a long time!
September 17, 2026
This is my first book from Archer and I was looking forward to seeing how the final book of a well-known author would play out. It certainly had a good recipe. Love between the great divide of social classes during the incredibly socially muddying time of World War 2. Combine that with the detailed prose of an experienced writer and it should have been a winner.
Unfortunately, despite it all sounding good on paper, this didn't hit the mark with me. There is a severe overuse of cliche in the story, characters, and plot which makes everything rather predictable. At times, the plot takes you in unbelievable and, quite frankly, unrealistic directions that has you questioning - would this really have happened? The romance(s), which should be the core of this book, felt flat and unbelievable. The wartime setting felt more like a backdrop of an old western film - a cardboard cut out that showed a picture of it, but with no real danger or life to it.
On the other hand, the writing style, word choices, subtle humour and irony were delightful. While I can't recommend this book, I am interested in reading some of his earlier works. Perhaps this one just wasn't for me.
Unfortunately, despite it all sounding good on paper, this didn't hit the mark with me. There is a severe overuse of cliche in the story, characters, and plot which makes everything rather predictable. At times, the plot takes you in unbelievable and, quite frankly, unrealistic directions that has you questioning - would this really have happened? The romance(s), which should be the core of this book, felt flat and unbelievable. The wartime setting felt more like a backdrop of an old western film - a cardboard cut out that showed a picture of it, but with no real danger or life to it.
On the other hand, the writing style, word choices, subtle humour and irony were delightful. While I can't recommend this book, I am interested in reading some of his earlier works. Perhaps this one just wasn't for me.
October 18, 2026
In spite of many unbelievable incidents in the plot, and many favorable (to the main characters) coincidences, JA doesn't disappoint so far as writing, research and narration is concerned. It's an easy read and predictable yet enjoyable. I would have given his initial books, had goodreads been there in those days, 5/5. Sadly, it has come to this.. RIP Jeffrey Archer... I will pick up your earlier books to read again....
October 31, 2026
Two children, born on the same day: Adam, a shepherd's son, and Eve, an earl's daughter, will both impact history in a big way during the time around WWII. Their stories intersect several times and in many ways and it was interesting to see their relationship change and grow. Many important historical events are explored through the eyes of our main characters and I felt like I was learning something along with reading a great story. I've read many other books by this author and I'm sad this will be the last one.
Thank you HarperCollins for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you HarperCollins for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 11, 2026
A brilliant piece of work, true to Lord Archer's talents! I rarely get teary, only when the author truly epitomizes the characters in their work. The ending did bring tears to my eyes. Turns out the novel was based on true occurrences, during WWII. The reader experiences some of the good, the bad and the ugly of war, though more of the upper echelon of society. That said, even they sacrificed their lives and freedoms, as all the citizens of the involved countries did in some way.
RIP Lord Jeffrey Archer who passed away this past Monday, October 5th, 2026. The day before this book was published / came out. Thank you for all of your wonderful, intriguing and awesome, page-turning novels with heros and heroines, plot twists and poetic justice. You were one-in-a-million.
RIP Lord Jeffrey Archer who passed away this past Monday, October 5th, 2026. The day before this book was published / came out. Thank you for all of your wonderful, intriguing and awesome, page-turning novels with heros and heroines, plot twists and poetic justice. You were one-in-a-million.
October 20, 2026
Ive read everything that Jeff as wrote and never been disappointed....until now...this starts off fairly well ....but unfortunately In my opinion, the story was so convoluted and stretched credulity to snapping point once too often and ultimately I have felt a bit let down by this last novel of, what has been, an excellent writer....at many points I thought i was reading a young adult book....I think this last novel from Jeffrey Archer will appeal to readers who like a easy and unchallenging read as this novel reminds me of hallmark movie. ...DNF.
October 27, 2026
Looking for your next gripping read? Dive into my full review of Adam and Eve by the master storyteller Jeffrey Archer! Find out what makes this page-turner a must-read, exploring the twists, characters, and suspense that keep you hooked until the very last page. Knowing this was his last novel, and then his passing a day after this publication, only makes it more poignant!
Tap through to read the complete review on my blog, and let me know in the comments if this is on your TBR pile! 📚✨
https://www.aniblogshere.com/adam-eve...
#JeffreyArcher #AdamAndEve #BookReview #BookRecommendations #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BookLovers #MustReadBooks #FictionReads #BookBlogger
Tap through to read the complete review on my blog, and let me know in the comments if this is on your TBR pile! 📚✨
https://www.aniblogshere.com/adam-eve...
#JeffreyArcher #AdamAndEve #BookReview #BookRecommendations #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BookLovers #MustReadBooks #FictionReads #BookBlogger
October 8, 2026
There’s a reason Jeffrey Archer has been keeping readers turning pages for almost fifty years. And Adam & Eve reminds us that the master storyteller still knows how to spin an enthralling yarn.
As a lifelong Archer fan, I’m well acquainted with his tried-and-tested tropes, and they’re all here: social divides, extraordinary ambition, larger-than-life characters, historical intrigue and enough cliffhangers to make putting the book down an exercise in sheer willpower.
Set against the gathering storm of the Second World War, this is a meticulously researched tale in which historical fact and fictional characters blend seamlessly. Archer brings the period to life with an engaging cast, a sweeping narrative and his trademark knack for keeping us hooked.
But…
My biggest stumbling block was the sheer number of outrageous coincidences required to propel the plot. Coincidence has always been part of Archer’s storytelling DNA, and I’m usually happy to go along for the ride. Here, though, the contrivances felt more forced than usual, stretching credibility a little too far.
I really, really wanted to love this book. Knowing it would be Archer’s final novel made me all the more eager to be swept away.
He reportedly considered it the best he’d ever written.
Sadly, I disagree.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t an absorbing, accomplished read. The page-turning magic is still there; I simply don’t think this quite reaches the heights of his finest work.
A fond farewell to a master storyteller, then.
As a lifelong Archer fan, I’m well acquainted with his tried-and-tested tropes, and they’re all here: social divides, extraordinary ambition, larger-than-life characters, historical intrigue and enough cliffhangers to make putting the book down an exercise in sheer willpower.
Set against the gathering storm of the Second World War, this is a meticulously researched tale in which historical fact and fictional characters blend seamlessly. Archer brings the period to life with an engaging cast, a sweeping narrative and his trademark knack for keeping us hooked.
But…
My biggest stumbling block was the sheer number of outrageous coincidences required to propel the plot. Coincidence has always been part of Archer’s storytelling DNA, and I’m usually happy to go along for the ride. Here, though, the contrivances felt more forced than usual, stretching credibility a little too far.
I really, really wanted to love this book. Knowing it would be Archer’s final novel made me all the more eager to be swept away.
He reportedly considered it the best he’d ever written.
Sadly, I disagree.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t an absorbing, accomplished read. The page-turning magic is still there; I simply don’t think this quite reaches the heights of his finest work.
A fond farewell to a master storyteller, then.
October 19, 2026
Having never read anyrhing by Jeffrey Archer i did not have any expectations.
My word i found this book to be wonderfully written and just a fantastic read that had me hooked from the off, i am definitely going to read more of this authors books.
My word i found this book to be wonderfully written and just a fantastic read that had me hooked from the off, i am definitely going to read more of this authors books.
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