The Magician

Have you ever been uncontrollably in love with a person even after learning of their flaws? "The Magician" by Somerset Maugham is the story of Margaret who breaks off her engagement with Arthur, a successful doctor a few days ahead of the engagement. She falls in love with an ugly looking Haddo who claims to be an occult magician.

Margaret is torn between her former lover and her new and becomes frail and mysteriously passes away. Arthur, a rational person until that point has a feeling that magic may be the cause of her demise, sets out to investigate.

Does Arthur find out the cause of his lover's death or is his suspicion misplaced? "The magician" is a fine book with a damp squib ending.