Introduction

Tough and pragmatic, Nina Karim is a single, 31-year-old homicide detective in the Long Island City police force. Her current investigation focuses on a series of cold case murders of violent, abusive men. The women connected to these men all have the same alibi: they were in Artemis, a battered women’s shelter, when their husbands were murdered.

Nina goes into Artemis posing as a victim of domestic abuse, certain that the answers lie with its closed doors. As she digs deeper, she finds the workings of Artemis may align with her own tragic past when her doctor father was assassinated by a pro-life fanatic, propelling Nina to become a police officer—with the singular intent to find his killer and extract her own bloody justice. Nina’s quest for revenge and the actions taken by the women in the shelter who have changed the rules for their own protection come together in a stunning climax.

Razor sharp dialogue, relentless action, and nuanced characters set YOU CAN GO HOME NOW far apart in a crowded field of psychological suspense thrillers, thanks to the skilled prose of Michael Elias, who has made a lifelong career writing for the stage and screen.

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Excerpt

CHAPTER 1; YOU CAN GO HOME NOW by Michael Elias

Artemis Shelter for Women

I have two black eyes, possibly a broken nose, and scrapes and abrasions over my face. I also have a loose molar and a cut lip that doesn’t seem to want to stop bleeding. A meat tenderizer hammer wrapped in a dish towel added three purple bruises to my thighs. “For good measure,” he said.

I get in my car, drive unsteadily to a parking spot on North- ern Boulevard, and walk two blocks to the shelter. I lean against the shelter’s steel grille; behind it is a solid wooden door with a peephole. Above the door out of reach, there is a CCTV camera aimed at me. I ring the bell and count seconds to dull the pain. At thirty-one, the door opens. A woman looks at me and shakes her head. “I’m sorry, we’re full. We have no room.”

“I’ll sleep on the floor.”

I step closer so she can get a better look at my face. I see hers. It’s about sixty, unlined, with kind blue eyes behind granny glasses. She thinks for a moment, then says with gentle resigna- tion, “We’ll give you a sleeping bag on a couch for now. I’m sorry I can’t promise more.”

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Discussion Questions

• The author is male, and he writes his main character, who is female, from the first- person perspective. What did you think of the voice?

• What did you think about the way the novel addressed topical issues – such as domestic abuse and anti-abortion terrorism?

• Revenge is an important theme in the book. Do you think Nina’s actions were justified?

• Sharon, introduced later, makes a case for the pro-life position. Is she convincing?

• Any impressions or thoughts about the portrayals of law enforcement in You Can Go Home Now?

• Nina worries that her rage might be ebbing. Discuss.

• Do you agree that we embrace revenge in our culture? Is the death penalty revenge or justice?

• Did you find the ending satisfying, did you feel justice was served?

• What does the title of the book mean to you?

• If you were a casting agent, which actor would be your ideal Nina Karim?

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