At the very end of the 1970s, post office worker Ed Saxberger wrote a book of poetry that nobody cared about. After an eager and flattering fan appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of young admirers who anoint him a rediscovered genius. The group of downtown bohemians is led by their "tragic heroine," Gloria. Intoxicated by the attention, and Gloria's alluring presence, Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle.

The Shards is part teenage coming of age, erotic thriller and exploration of the untamed and mysterious era of Los Angeles 1981, tracking a group of privileged high school friends as a serial killer strikes across the city.