No one fools us more than we fool ourselves. Set against a backdrop of magic tricks, ghost stories, and attempts to communicate with the dead, The Arts of Legerdemain as Taught by Ghosts tells the story of Steve Kozwa-a former stage magician who's recently released from prison. Steve is living in a dilapidated apartment, working a dead-end job at a donut shop, and clinging to one spark of hope: that he can somehow scrape together enough money to get to New Zealand and the fresh start his sister has promised. His fragile existence is shattered by a poster advertising a magic show, and a magician Steve recognizes: his ex-lover, Fox Fellows. As he wrestles with the conflicting emotions and memories surrounding his failed relationship with Fox, Steve tries to gain ground on his potential future, signing on to help a sad and obsessive hunt to communicate with spirits. And, just as Steve thinks he's managed to get over the crux of his problem, an unforeseen catastrophe wipes everything away, and leaves him facing a dangerous and desperate set of choices.