A Scattering of Jades by Alexander C. Irvine

I love alternate history books. Sort of. Maybe I love the idea of them more than the execution. When they focus on actual historical persons or events, I don't like them so much. When they're looking at periphery players on history's stage, they can be fun.
Such is the case with A Scattering of Jades. It's the story of Archie Prescott, a newspaper reporter whose daughter is kidnapped as part of a bizarre plot to resurrect an ancient Latin American God. Archie's daughter Jane is to be the sacrificial lamb that will turn the tide in the battle between the ancient Gods of Earth and Sky. Riley Steen, a magician of sorts, is trying to resurrect a God and control the fate of the world. Prescott stumbles across his plans and is killed, only to be resurrected as a pawn for the other side to fight Riley Steen. On his journey, he will encounter zombies, rivermen, monsters, shapeshifters, mummies, and yes, even killer midgets. Prescott is a father fighting for his daughter, the only family he has left, and his relentless spirit is all that carries him through.
There are interesting parallels drawn between the changing of the Gods and America on the verge of Civil War. Irvine keeps the pacing tight, but some of the old legends, particularly the Gods with many names, make the story difficult to follow at times.