Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Colors of the Mind is a contemporary paranormal fiction novel written by Ed Krizek. Bobby Jones saw his first auras when he was a small, chubby boy who was tormented by two bullies. When he lashed back at one of them, the resulting altercation with Gregory's father, and fear of punishment by his own parents, seemed to trigger the phenomena. What appeared to be packets of different colors surrounded each person in the room. It was strange and terrifying, and he never dared tell anyone about it. After the bullying incident, his parents encouraged him to go in for swimming, which he excelled at, and he continued on through college on a swimming scholarship. After that one early experience, Bobby saw no other auras until he was finished with college. Unlike his best friends, he had no interest in going for a "real" job, preferring to make ends meet doing the construction work that his father had taught him as he was growing up. The post-collegiate stresses, however, appeared to have re-triggered the auras.

Ed Krizek's contemporary paranormal fiction novel, Colors of the Mind, explores the stresses and strains experienced by those who discover their paranormal abilities as children. Unless they're fortunate enough to have a parent or other relative with similar gifts, the appearance of auras or other paranormal manifestations are frightening and often misunderstood to be symptoms of mental illness. Krizek presents his character's ability to see auras in a sympathetic light, making the reader feel what Bobby feels and understand how his gift has set him adrift and isolated. His interactions with Annabelle, the young woman who becomes his friend and mentor, are marvelous to read. With a fuller understanding of his gifts and what he actually wants in life, Bobby begins to take charge of his life and even has a chance at love. Colors of the Mind is finely plotted and well-written, and it's highly recommended.