British author Jeffrey Archer, who penned a series of best-selling novels, served as a Conservative MP and was convicted of perjury, died suddenly at 86, his publisher HarperCollins said. Archer became a prominent Conservative politician before a 2001 conviction for perjury and perverting the course of justice Key points and original sources are listed below.

• British author Jeffrey Archer, who penned a series of best-selling novels, served as a Conservative MP and was convicted of perjury, died suddenly at 86, his publisher HarperCollins said.S1

• Archer became a prominent Conservative politician before a 2001 conviction for perjury and perverting the course of justiceS2

• The novelist was best known for pacy thrillers such as Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less and the Kane and Abel series.S3