The Lord Giveth...

... but He Mostly Taketh. Especially in the crime fiction blogosphere.

Last week, Kevin Burton Smith announced he was putting his excellent Thrilling Detective Web Site on hiatus. Fucking hell. It's been a Secret Dead Blog favorite since 1998. Back before Secret Dead Blog was even a gleam in its daddy's eye.

Then today, John Rickards announced that he would be pulling a Kevorkian on his new -but-awesome Mystery Circus. This is a friggin' crime, because in a short time he's managed to gather some of the best writing columns I've seen anywhere, mystery fiction or otherwise, from some of the top voices in the genre. (Plus, there are columns by Dave White.) It's just not right.

I mean, sure, there are bright spots. J. Kingston Pierce's new Rap Sheet blog has quickly become a must-read here at Secret Dead Blog. Woody Haut, author of Pulp Culture, Neon Noir and Heartbreak and Vine, started up his own blog. Which is groovy.

But why God why must you take my Thrilling Detective and my Mystery Circus?

Why!?

As usual, God offers no comment.

Oh wait.

Look.

Leprosy.