A Matter of Honour

About A Matter of Honour by Jeffrey Archer

A Matter of Honour is a Cold War thriller by Jeffrey Archer, first published in 1986 by Hodder and Stoughton. It tells the story of a young man who inherits a mysterious letter from his father and is soon drawn into a dangerous chase across Europe. If you like espionage fiction with a strong sense of family duty, A Matter of Honour is an excellent choice. Please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492 for details of the copy in stock, including the edition and number of pages.

Lafz Bookstore in Srinagar keeps classic English thrillers for readers across Kashmir and India, and this Archer title is among the favourites.

What A Matter of Honour is about

The hero, Adam Scott, receives a letter left by his father, a former British army officer whose name was clouded by disgrace. The letter leads him to a valuable Russian icon kept in a Swiss bank. When he takes it, he becomes a fugitive, hunted by a ruthless agent of the Soviet secret service who wants the icon at any cost. The action moves through Switzerland, Germany, France and London in the mid-1960s, and the roots of the mystery go back to the years after the Second World War. We have not spoiled the story, so what happens to Adam and the icon remains for you to discover.

Themes in the novel

• Honour, and the wish to clear a family’s name
• The bond between father and son, and the burden a son may inherit
• Cat-and-mouse espionage and survival under pressure
• Loyalty and betrayal among friends, officials and enemies
• The atmosphere of Europe in the Cold War

About the author

Jeffrey Archer is a British author whose novels and short stories have been read around the world. He is known for tight plots and a clear, easy style that works well for readers who want to enjoy English fiction without struggling with complicated language. A Matter of Honour is one of his best-known thrillers and a good introduction to his work.

Why A Matter of Honour is worth reading

The book works on two levels. On the surface it is a chase story, with a young man always one step ahead of danger. Underneath, it asks what honour really means and what a person owes to the memory of a parent. Readers who enjoy a mystery that unfolds slowly will like the way clues connect past and present. The chapters are short and lively, so the book fits easily into a busy week.

Who should read this book

• Readers who enjoy spy fiction and Cold War settings
• Jeffrey Archer fans building their collection
• Students looking for enjoyable English reading practice
• Anyone searching for a gift for a thriller lover
• School and college libraries that want popular fiction

How to enjoy the book

Read at a steady pace and pay attention to small details early in the story, since they matter later. If you enjoy the history behind the plot, look up the period in Europe in the years after the war for more context. For a reading group, discuss the meaning of honour in the book and whether the hero’s choices were right. When you finish, try other Archer thrillers and compare how each one builds its suspense.

A good gift or library addition

A well-loved thriller is a reliable gift for a friend, a brother or a colleague. It also fits well on a shelf of popular English fiction at home or in an institution.

Edition details

Title: A Matter of Honour. Author: Jeffrey Archer. Language: English. First published in 1986. For the publisher, edition and page count of the copy in stock, please message us on WhatsApp at 9906523492. Same-day dispatch from Srinagar. Delivery takes about 1 day in Srinagar and 3 to 10 days in the rest of India.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote A Matter of Honour? The author is Jeffrey Archer.

What is the book about? It follows a young man who inherits a letter that leads him to a valuable icon and into a dangerous chase across Europe.

Is the ending revealed here? No, we have kept the story free of spoilers.

How quickly will it reach me? We dispatch the same day from Srinagar. Delivery is about 1 day in Srinagar and 3 to 10 days across the rest of India.

Looking for more English books like this? Browse our English Literature collection or explore all Literature & Fiction. Follow Lafz Bookstore on Instagram for new arrivals and book recommendations.