The novel essentially revolves around the idea that gods exist due to the belief system of people and it is due to the waning belief of people that their power has been diminished. The protagonist of the novel is Shadow, a convict. The authorities have released him early, but his world changes entirely when he finds out that his wife and best friend have died in a car crash.
Shadow gets employed as a bodyguard for a mysterious man who later turns out to be Odin, who leads him into a realm of an impending battle between the gods of the old diminishing order and the new (of media and technology). In this process, Shadow is also able to resurrect his wife.
Most of the Old Gods do not want anything to do with this battle but the New Gods have kidnapped Shadow who is later rescued by Laura. Shadow is first hidden by Wednesday (Odin) in a tranquil town but Shadow is cynical of the town. He is unable to find out what is wrong with the town as he is pursued by some of the men whose accomplices Laura had to kill to save Shadow.
Meanwhile, the murder of Wednesday by the New Gods rallies the Old Gods into action. Shadow is pierced by a spear and visits the realm of the dead but he is later brought back to life. However, he also learns that Wednesday was his father. He realises that all of this was some sort of a well designed plan and the murder of Odin was very much intended and hence, Shadow arrives at Rock City to stop the battle. This event leads to the death of Laura as Shadow is forced to take back the magical coin from her and return to Lakeside, finally uncovering its secret.
