English Wikipedia @ Freddythechick:Articles for deletion/Kill Fee

The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep‎. Liz ^{Read! Talk!} 05:31, 9 March 2024 (UTC)

Kill Fee

[Hide this box] New to Articles for deletion (AfD)? Read these primers!

(Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL)

This novel does not appear to meet any of the 5 WP:BOOKCRIT. Maybe #3 but I wouldn't call Murder C.O.D. a significant work. AllTheUsernamesAreInUse (talk) 04:55, 2 March 2024 (UTC)

Note: This discussion has been included in the deletion sorting lists for the following topics: Literature and United States of America. WCQuidditch ☎ ✎ 05:36, 2 March 2024 (UTC)

keep Wikipedia:Notability_(books)#Criteria #3 reads "significant contribution to a notable or significant motion picture" (my emphasis). The film Murder C.O.D. is a notable film and the novel Kill Fee made a significant contribution to that film since the film is an adaptation of the novel. The novel meets #3. --Bensin (talk) 10:54, 2 March 2024 (UTC)

You might be right but at the least I'd like to see more sources. AllTheUsernamesAreInUse (talk) 17:33, 2 March 2024 (UTC)

I have no objection to that. And I agree with your tag here where you request more sources. The book is from 1985, and online sources seem scarce. Sources are likely to be found in print from the time, which may take longer to procure. --Bensin (talk) 13:24, 3 March 2024 (UTC)

In hindsight I admit the nomination may have been a bit overhasty, but yeah, it's kind of difficult to dig up sources sometimes with my software. AllTheUsernamesAreInUse (talk) 20:29, 3 March 2024 (UTC)

Bensin (talk · contribs) and AllTheUsernamesAreInUse (talk · contribs), A large number of sources can be found for this book through Wikipedia:Newspapers.com via Wikipedia:The Wikipedia Library in this search. The service is available to all Wikipedia editors who are "registered editors whose account is six months old and has 500 edits". Cunard (talk) 10:16, 4 March 2024 (UTC)

I was planing to sign up for The Wikipedia Library soon to be able to perform better WP:BEFORE checks. Thank you for finding those sources. AllTheUsernamesAreInUse (talk) 21:34, 4 March 2024 (UTC)

That's great! The Wikipedia Library is an excellent resource for finding sources. Cunard (talk) 11:20, 8 March 2024 (UTC)

Keep per the significant coverage in multiple independent reliable sources. Wikipedia:Notability (books)#Criteria says:
A book is presumed notable if it verifiably meets, through reliable sources, at least one of the following criteria:
1. The book has been the subject of two or more non-trivial published works appearing in sources that are independent of the book itself. This can include published works in all forms, such as newspaper articles, other books, television documentaries, bestseller lists, and reviews. This excludes media re-prints of press releases, flap copy, or other publications where the author, its publisher, agent, or other self-interested parties advertise or speak about the book.
Sources
1. Roberts, Marlyn (1986-02-01). "Two mystery novels among authors' best". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  The review notes: "What is really original about this plot, though, is that the identity of the killer is revealed near the beginning of the story. What makes it even more surprising is that despite this information — which in most detective stories is withheld until the end, as would seem necessary to hold the reader's interest — our interest in Kill Fee does not flag."
2. Biddle, Marcia M. (1986-01-12). "'Kill Fee' takes clever premise to shocking conclusion". The Pittsburgh Press. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  The review notes: "'Pittsburgh author Barbara Paul has written a hard-edged thriller of mounting, almost unbearable suspense in "Kill Fee." Her premise is ingenious: a killer studies the market and chooses as his victims only those whose deaths will greatly benefit someone else, someone who has money. After the killing, this person receives a bill for $100,000, "For Services Rendered — One Murder." And, although the bill invariably comes as a shock, the recipients are either too grateful or too frightened to refuse to pay it."
3. Scrubbs, Wormwood (1986-01-05). "Thrillers take to the sticks". The Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  The review notes: "If you're starved for some big-city blood and gore, try "Kill Fee," which offers an interesting plot idea: A Manhattan psycho, who calls himself "Pluto," finds people who would profit by someone's death, kills the someone, then bills the benefactor for "services rendered." The first couple of times, the scheme works. ... Barbara Paul, author of "The Renewable Virgin," keeps the clever plot on a fast track."
4. DeWolf, Rose (1986-01-07). "Some Juicy Murders to Solve". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  The review notes: "Next, "Kill Fee," a cleverly plotted story about a "hired" killer who shoots first and asks for a payoff afterward. ... The story is very well written the reader may be just as happy about who gets bumped off as the "clients" are. ... But, here comes the bias: even though the crime is solved, the ending is very downbeat. A killing takes place that is not only unexpected but unwelcome. It won't bother everybody. But, for me, a couple of paragraphs on the last page took away all the enjoyment I'd gotten out of all the pages that had gone before."
5. Clements, Denney (1986-02-09). "Whodunit? Five Offer Possibilities". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  The article notes: "Do you often wish your enemies would just well die in a way that leaves you absolutely blameless in the bargain Improving the quality of your lifo immeasurably? Then it’s high time you met Pluto who' for the modest fee of $100000 will make your wishes come true."
6. Cromie, Alice (1986-02-23). "Suspense Bookshelf: 'Crocus List' still a thrill despite slips". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  The review notes: "Barbara Paul's Kill Fee [Scribner's, $13.95] has a peculiarly apt title. It also stretches the long arm of coincidence so far you could wrap it around the Empire State, but even so, holds your attention through a preposterous plot all the way to a shocking and ironic final twist. You may find it hard to believe that anyone would research the backgrounds and current circumstances of several diverse lives in order to determine how each person could benefit from the death of someone near and undear, and then remove the stumbling block and demand payment from the surprised and so far blameless character who benefits from the killing."
7. Van Vynckt, Virginia (1986-03-09). "New whodunits to jolt the most jaded". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  The review notes: "Pluto remains an enigma to the very end of the book. He is obviously refined, cultured, and pathetically appreciative of true gratitude, which most of his clients withhold from him. ... Ansbacher's fate is pretty predictable, as is Pluto's - but Paul isn't content to wrap things up prettily, and the ending is a corker.Paul's economy of prose and fresh plot make Kill Fee perfect for a jaded mystery buff."
8. Berlins, Marcel (1985-11-07). "Books (Crime): Little art of ice-cold gems - Review of 'The New Girl Friend', By Ruth Rendell". The Times. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  The review notes: "Kill Fee, by Barbara Paul (Collins, pounds 7.50). Good, though mercenary, Samaritan kills first, then sends a bill to the victims's enemies. Taut, well-paced, full of surprises and sparky New York dialogue."
9. Coleman, John (1985-12-29). "Books: Murder across three continents - Review of new crime fiction". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  The review notes: "Kill Fee by Barbara Paul (Collins pounds 7.50 pp 204). In hate-ridden New York devilish dog of mercenary assassin, self-styled 'Pluto', has bright wheeze of bumping off unwanted folk while obvious beneficiaries have alibis, then billing hitherto ignorant client for services rendered: dollars /00,000 a crack. After initial bluster, most pay up. Original, quirky, with a NYPD lieutenant horned on one of the year's classier dilemmas."
There is sufficient coverage in reliable sources to allow Kill Fee to pass Wikipedia:Notability#General notability guideline, which requires "significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject".
Cunard (talk) 10:16, 4 March 2024 (UTC)

Thank you! I added two of the reviews to the article and made a todo-list on the talk page to review the rest of the sources. --Bensin (talk) 19:14, 7 March 2024 (UTC)

Thank you for adding the sources! Cunard (talk) 11:20, 8 March 2024 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.