When the 5000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus is summoned by Nathaniel, a young magician's apprentice, he expects to have to do nothing more taxing than a little levitation or a few simple illusions.

But Nathaniel is a precocious talent and has something rather more dangerous in mind: revenge.

Against his will, Bartimaeus is packed off to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition.

Before long, both djinni and apprentice are caught up in a terrifying flood of magical intrigue, murder and rebellion.