Geoffrey Jenkins’ mind-bending plot has a beautiful scientist who’s passionate about beetles, a super-secret Nazi nuclear powered U-boat, a Luger toting Bad Guy, a military court martial, a gripping submarine duel, and a mystery involving an enigmatic section of the African coast. Written in 1959, Jenkins’ high adventure novel hits a couple of sour notes with a lame romantic subplot and jarring references to black Africans. But, if you can overlook these minor flaws, you’ll find A Twist of Sand delivers a satisfying high adventure that just isn’t being written anymore.
I haven’t read it but I did see the movie, which starred Richard Johnson and Honor Blackman, a long long time ago.
*goes to look for geezer bus*
I didn’t know they had made a movie from TWIST OF SAND, Jeff. You are the man!
Sounds like high adventure to me.
Terrie
You’re right about the High Adventure, Terrie! The sad fact is no one is writing like this anymore.
Honor Blackman. Boy, she was a beauty. See how I avoid admitting this is another book I’ve not even heard of.
You wouldn’t believe the number of books that are stacked in my Read Real Soon pile, Patti! Honor Blackman was a beauty, but my heart belonged to Diana Rigg.
Bill reviewed this recently, now you George. Two covers. I recently got a copy, and mine has yet another cover of a burning submarine), which I like better than either of the others. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s 3rd in line just now. I also picked up a copy of A GRUE OF ICE.
At one time Geoffrey Jenkins was a Big Time writer so his work went through several editions with several different covers, Rick. His books are scarce now.
True. I used to find his Fontana paperbacks cheap all over England but you just don’t see the older stuff now – even counting ‘the ’60s’ as older. The books have to be somewhere as millions of copies were printed, but where? Then can’t all have been destroyed.
I’m with George on Diana Rigg, by the way. We saw her on stage a couple of times, once in Pygmalion and once – naked – in Abelard and Heloise.
(That is, she was naked, not me.)
😉
I can still find Fontanas and Geoffrey Jenkins books in Canada, Jeff. Diana Rigg fueled a lot of my fantasies when I was watching THE AVENGERS as a kid.
I would like to take this wonderful opportunity to share my success with the republishing of the greatest thriller writer ‘Geoffrey Jenkins’ 16 novels to be back in print through iUniverse Publishing.
Since there were so many of those magnificent novels, it has been a slow process, but it will be worth the wait. Now they will not be the ‘forgotten’ books. I am truly excited and honored to be a part of this accomplishment and can’t wait to get the whole collection.
You guys should let my partner ‘Dave Jenkins’ (Geoffrey Jenkins son) know of your interests of his fathers books. He’d be happy to hear your reviews. Feel free to jump over to http://bawiseconsulting.wordpress.com and let us hear from you.
As I get approvals verified through the publisher, I will update with pictures of the new covers and also inform when each book is ready for the market. Respectfully, Brenda
This is great news, Brenda! I’ve enjoyed all the Geoffrey Jenkins books I’ve read. I’m sure we all would be interested in seeing the new covers when they become available.
I have nine Geoffrey Jenkins paperback books that I have inherited from my dad – and I wondered if there is any market to sell them, or if I should just give them to a charity since I have read them and don’t have room to store stuff?? Any advice??
My e-mail is kathy.grey@yahoo.com if anyone has any advice for me!! Thanks!!
It all depends on how much hassle you want to take on, Kathy. You can sell your Geoffrey Jenkins’ paperbacks on eBay. You could donate them to your local public library and take a small tax write-off. Or maybe someone will read your comment and offer to buy them from you. Good luck!
I first read ‘A Twist of Sand’ while working my way back from Africa on a freighter and was immediately hooked on Geoffrey Jenkins. I have most of his books, all of which are excellent, but ‘Twist of Sand’ was the best.
I’ve not seen the movie but have read the synopsis. It appears that movie plot unfortunately has very little to do with the book.
Sadly, too many movies “modify” the book they’re based on, Diogenes. I’ve read some of Geoffrey Jenkins’ other novels, but none of them topped TWIST OF SAND.
A good yarn. I remember reading it in hardback in 61 or 62. Knowing where the Skeleton Coast has served me well in pub quizzes and the like.
I think TWIS OF SAND is Geoffrey Jenkins best book, Albert.
Twist of Sand was extremely well written reflecting the dialogue and stories floating around South Africa at the time. North South West Africa, now Nanibia was extremely real..Thinly populated in the northern parts he writes about. Based on the legends and myths and legends at the time . The description of every day life l in SWA and the characters living there are real and to true life
I was thrilled to read A Twist of Sand in the early 60’s, as a teenager, and went on to enjoy “A Grue of Ice”. I just now recalled the experience, and was delighted to see that others shared my experience, and that there were still more “tales” to enjoy!
Yes, there are plenty of tales to enjoy, Tom. Most of the books are still available for reasonable prices on the Internet.