The book and series are about power struggles in a magical dystopia centred in London, England, and feature a mix of current and ancient, secular and mythological themes.

The book is named after a magical artifact created in the ancient Asian city of Samarkand, around which the story revolves.

Through a scrying glass, Nathaniel sees Lovelace receive a package containing the powerful Amulet of Samarkand.

Days after his twelfth birthday, Nathaniel summons the djinn Bartimaeus and charges him to steal the Amulet.

He strikes a bargain with Bartimaeus: in return for keeping Nathaniel's true name a secret, the magician will not summon him again.

With Bartimaeus’ grudging respect, Nathaniel unbinds him, beginning a true magician's life under a new master, Jessica Whitwell.