American Gods, Neil Gaiman

Shadow, recently released from jail, meets Wednesday, a strange old man who offers him a job running errands and protecting him. As he works his way around the Midwest, he finds that he is working for an old god who is trying to rally other old gods, some forgotten, some unfashionable, to fight for their survival against the new gods of American life. If you don't mind that it's a fantasy, this book is worth a read.