Honour Among Thieves was published by HarperCollins in 1993. Saddam Hussein, humiliated by his defeat in the Gulf War, conceives a spectacular act of revenge: steal the original Declaration of Independence from the National Archives and publicly burn it on July 4th — a symbolic destruction of America’s founding document intended to humiliate the nation on the world stage. Scott Bradley, a young CIA operative, and Hannah Kopec, a Mossad agent, must prevent the theft.
The novel’s premise is quintessential Archer: a high-concept scenario executed with meticulous attention to logistical detail. How would one actually steal the Declaration of Independence? How would one transport it? How would one destroy it publicly? Archer works through these problems with the same engineering precision he brings to his twist endings.
The Gulf War Context
The novel was published two years after the Gulf War, when Saddam Hussein was still in power and still perceived as a threat. Archer’s premise — that Saddam would seek symbolic revenge rather than military response — captured the period’s anxieties about unconventional retaliation. The 2004 film National Treasure later explored similar territory (stealing the Declaration of Independence) but from a very different angle.
Collecting Honour Among Thieves
First edition (HarperCollins, London, 1993): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $25–$50
- Very good: $10–$25
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a sequel to any other Archer novel? No. Honour Among Thieves is a standalone thriller. It does not feature characters from the Kane and Abel saga or the Clifton Chronicles. The novel was Archer’s attempt at a pure espionage thriller in the tradition of Frederick Forsyth.