Picasso Blues is much more than a police mystery. -- The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Aug 6, 2011 Married to themes of insidious racism, official corruption/cover-up and the bipolar, us-theme police psychology that, under stress, can easily blur the lines of perp and victim, Picasso is a must-read for every cop north of the Rio Grande -- and for anyone wanting the real down-low and up-high on our troubled guardians. -- The Winnipeg Free Press, Oct 29, 2011 Mixed with really scary gore, this riff on film, life and art is a great bit of writing. -- Margaret Cannon -- The Globe and Mail, Nov 17, 2011 On one level, its an action-packed, hard-boiled police procedural. On the other, its an under-your-skin story that keeps resonating in your thoughts long after youve put it down The ending in this must-read mystery is an example of why author Lee Lamothe is at the top of his game. -- Hamilton Spectator, Dec 7, 2011 The ethereal near-death visions of a beating victim nail you to the opening pages of Picasso Blues, a sequel to last year's Free Form Jazz by Toronto gonzo-noir king Lee Lamothe. Twisty plot-lines, vivid imagery and keen portraiture keep you there. The waves of arson, race riots and paranoia set off by a SARS-like epidemic provide grist for Lamothe's authentic police-psychology insights, but it's the crazy-love, salt-and-pepper reunion of scruffy detective Ray Tate and quirky State Trooper Djuna Brown that propel this fast-paced romp. -- Winnipeg Free Press, Dec 21, 2011
