The Magician’s Assistant: don’t miss this one

The Magician’s Assistant

By Ann Patchett

Published 1997           

Read March 2026      

This reader took much time to finally get around to reading this Patchett novel despite enjoying every Patchett book she previously read.  The title suggested the book would involve the business of magicians, which it did, but it’s not clear why that would be a bother.

Fortunately, this reader did finally read this book and was delighted to find that this novel, like other Patchett novels, had an engaging storyline, interesting characters, and universal themes, despite involving a magician. 

Sabine was the long-term assistant of a successful magician who has recently died.  She had also recently become his wife, although there is no need to think that she was involved in the death as a result.  Rather she had been in love with the magician for most of her adult life while she was his assistant despite knowing that kind of love wouldn’t be returned.  The magician married her to enable her financial security upon his death.  Enough background there—read the book to understand the relationship.

The book follows Sabine as she grieves his death.  His will includes bequeaths to his mother and two sisters, whom he had previously told Sabine were dead.  She agrees to a visit from these Nebraska residents to her in California where she and magician have lived throughout their career together. 

Much of the story centers on the developing relationship between Sabine and these family members as they each explore their desire to know the magician better as a large chunk of his life (before CA/post Iowa for Sabine and vice versa for his family).  It includes Sabine’s discussions with her dead husband’s lover’s ghost which are also undertaken to enable Sabine to know her husband better.  Sabine’s choices during the story are sometimes surprising to this reader but quite believable, as are the discussions with the ghost, leading the reader on a course not originally expected. 

So Patchett has found an intriguing story setting to explore grief, family relationships, and what it means to love. And this reader heartily recommends you read this book too.