International Kindle Paperwhite
EUR 8.52
You will be charged USD 9.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

How it works

  1. Choose your delivery method
  2. Send now or schedule for later
  3. Add your personal message
  4. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.

Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

  • The Simpleton

Follow the author

Get new release updates & improved recommendations
Barbara Avon
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Simpleton Kindle Edition

by Barbara Avon (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.9 out of 5 stars (15)
Jonathan Peters once held a prestigious position at Tribeck Advertising. He was well-loved in his neighbourhood. A newlywed, he and his beautiful wife Andrea, were looking forward to being parents. Now he lives a solitary life, and works in a flower shop. Now, they call him the “simpleton”. It wasn't his fault, really. He found her in the bathtub. “An accident”, they called it. Or was it? When the haunting begins to steal Jon's identity, he changes into a different man. He recognizes the ghost, though. It's someone he once vowed to spend his entire life with, and there's something she wants to say.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    142 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    February 8, 2023
  5. File size
    2.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

I am a wife, sister, daughter, an aunt and a friend. I am a lover of words and a firm believer that if you "lose your dreams, you might lose your mind." (The Rolling Stones)

Follow your dreams and your heart will be abundant with love. It really is that simple. God Bless and thank you from the bottom of my heart for following me on this incredible journey.

Barbara Avon is a multi-genre Author. She has written since she was young, pursuing her dreams and vowing to write for as long as she can. She has worked at several different media publications and will continue to publish novels until "her pen runs dry". In 2018 she won FACES Magazine's "Best of Ottawa" award for female Author and Spillwords "Author of the Month". She believes in paying it forward and you can read about this belief as the theme is given voice in most of her books. Avon lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband, Danny, their tarantula, Betsy, and their houseplant, Romeo.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BVDSX2RX
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 8, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.1 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 142 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 out of 5 stars (15)

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Barbara Avon

Barbara Avon

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. - Pablo Neruda.

Barbara Avon grew up Italian in the Niagara Falls Region and attended Notre Dame High School, and then Brock University. In 1999, she moved to Ottawa to pursue work and has worked for two major Ottawa area magazines. Being a shy kid in school, she created stories in her head, and when her Grade 9 English teacher awarded one of her short stories an A +, she knew that she would one day write a novel.

Avon is a multi-genre author. She’s written Romance, Romantic Thrillers, Time Travel, Mystery, Horror, and Paranormal Romance. Her work appears in various anthologies including Steering 23 Publications, and Beyond the Levee, and her stories have been regularly featured on the Spillwords Press website. In October of 2022, “Revived” was chosen as “Horror Book of the Year” by the “Feed My Reads” community, and in February of 2025, "Sultry Is the Night", received the Literary Titan Gold Medal Award for Fiction. In April of 2025, Avon won the Editor's Choice Award for Literary Excellence from Reader's House Magazine. Her work has also appeared in Publisher's Weekly Magazine.

When she’s not writing, she’s experimenting in the kitchen with her husband, spends her time reading, and watching 1980s movies, and always lives with her characters in her head while working on her current novel. Avon has quoted: I believe in magic. Books are magic. Love is the most remarkable magic.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
15 global ratings
Story that keeps you guessing till the last page.
5 out of 5 stars
Story that keeps you guessing till the last page.
Jonathan Peters is trapped in a living nightmare. After his wife dies in a horrific accident he begins to slowly loose his mind as the hauntings begin. Because of this he has lost his job and become a shell of the man he once was, working at a flower-shop and being referred to as a simpleton. Nothing seems able to penetrate until he meets Trina. What could be so important that this ghost of someone he loved more than anyone needs him to know? I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. When I first received the book I was surprised at the length of it, being that it is only 185 pages. It is a great fast read, taking only a few nights after the kids were in bed to get through it. When I finished chapter one and moved on to chapter two I had to go back and reread it, because I thought that I had missed some key factor. Then as I continued on in the book chapter one made less and less sense. I chalked it up to the ravings of someone overcome with grief or possibly a game the married couple played before her death. I will not give anything away, as I always try to refrain from spoilers, but I can honestly say that I did not see the end of the book coming. The story is a detailed and well written quick read that leaves you puzzling what is truly going on until the very last page. I don't know that I had a favorite character in this book as I don't feel personally attached to any of them. This book is a psychological thriller that I would recommend to anyone looking for something to pass an evening with.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Shmuel Yaccoby
    5.0 out of 5 stars About loss and healing
    Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Two parallel stories, one sentimental narrative. Healing from the loss of the loved one is a process that may impact one’s brain to a horrific mode. A wise and mesmerizing writing that kept me hooked on the two protagonists. Not much of a thriller but rather being empathetic with the character who keeps living the past by materializing memories to present life. The writing makes them so real and that is why I recommend this book.

    “He knew at that moment that he would die from the touch of her poisonous lips, lips that were the colour of a rotten apple and smelled just the same. The smell was vile as she inched closer, as if she held the world's unspoken truths within her, tales of evil…”
    Helpful
     Report
  • Teresa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Expected... In The Best Ways Possible!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    When I started reading this, I had an idea in my head of what this story was about. Somehow, I was completely wrong. (Entirely my fault!) Luckily, it turned out so much better than I had anticipated. Barbara Avon weaves a beautiful tale in this eerie tale of love, heartbreak, and redemption. The Simpleton will pull you in and throw you into a roller coaster ride of emotions ending with an absolutely stunning ending!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Maurice Barkley
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The Simpleton is a well-crafted and entertaining story, but more important to me is the author's command of the language. Her ability to create powerful images while building suspense is impressive. The dialogue of the characters throughout is consistent. There is no doubt as to the identity of the speaker. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway I highly recommend this story.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sylvie D. Parris
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wait...what...OH!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I had no idea what to expect and that theme kept going throughout the book. All my guesses as to what was happening with the main character was completely wrong. I found that delightful.

    I also hated the flower shop owner. What a pernicious little toad, he was and a contrast to poor tortured Jon
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Alicia Rowe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Story that keeps you guessing till the last page.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2021
    Jonathan Peters is trapped in a living nightmare. After his wife dies in a horrific accident he begins to slowly loose his mind as the hauntings begin. Because of this he has lost his job and become a shell of the man he once was, working at a flower-shop and being referred to as a simpleton. Nothing seems able to penetrate until he meets Trina. What could be so important that this ghost of someone he loved more than anyone needs him to know?
    I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. When I first received the book I was surprised at the length of it, being that it is only 185 pages. It is a great fast read, taking only a few nights after the kids were in bed to get through it.

    When I finished chapter one and moved on to chapter two I had to go back and reread it, because I thought that I had missed some key factor. Then as I continued on in the book chapter one made less and less sense. I chalked it up to the ravings of someone overcome with grief or possibly a game the married couple played before her death. I will not give anything away, as I always try to refrain from spoilers, but I can honestly say that I did not see the end of the book coming.

    The story is a detailed and well written quick read that leaves you puzzling what is truly going on until the very last page. I don't know that I had a favorite character in this book as I don't feel personally attached to any of them. This book is a psychological thriller that I would recommend to anyone looking for something to pass an evening with.
    Customer image
    Alicia Rowe
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Story that keeps you guessing till the last page.

    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2021
    Jonathan Peters is trapped in a living nightmare. After his wife dies in a horrific accident he begins to slowly loose his mind as the hauntings begin. Because of this he has lost his job and become a shell of the man he once was, working at a flower-shop and being referred to as a simpleton. Nothing seems able to penetrate until he meets Trina. What could be so important that this ghost of someone he loved more than anyone needs him to know?
    I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. When I first received the book I was surprised at the length of it, being that it is only 185 pages. It is a great fast read, taking only a few nights after the kids were in bed to get through it.

    When I finished chapter one and moved on to chapter two I had to go back and reread it, because I thought that I had missed some key factor. Then as I continued on in the book chapter one made less and less sense. I chalked it up to the ravings of someone overcome with grief or possibly a game the married couple played before her death. I will not give anything away, as I always try to refrain from spoilers, but I can honestly say that I did not see the end of the book coming.

    The story is a detailed and well written quick read that leaves you puzzling what is truly going on until the very last page. I don't know that I had a favorite character in this book as I don't feel personally attached to any of them. This book is a psychological thriller that I would recommend to anyone looking for something to pass an evening with.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kathleen Stone
    5.0 out of 5 stars "Beauty is not a standard. What touches your soul is beautiful."
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2021
    Format: Paperback
    Out of all of Avon's books that I've read, this one ranks at the top. I was hooked from the start and was on the edge of my seat until the very end. Not only did the critical reveal have me gasping out loud, but the ending did as well. Avon is the Queen of Horror in my book, and keeps readers on their toes, continually guessing, and at times shocked to their core. She is so good with the twists and turns that make her stories unique, and I look forward to devouring more of her work.

    Some of my favorite lines from the Simpleton:
    "Beauty is not a standard. What touches your soul is beautiful."
    "The couch spit him out as if done with him, throwing him across the room where he landed on his hands and knees."
    "The mystery that shrouded him had been chipped away to expose a masterpiece beneath the facade of despair."
    Helpful
     Report
  • CamReads
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Mysterious Tale of Undying Love
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2023
    Format: Kindle
    "The Simpleton", a paranormal fiction tale by author Barbara Avon, is one of those stories that hooks a reader from the beginning and doesn't let go until the very end. This author's ghost stories tend to be on the dark psychological side (which I love) and this one was no exception. Main character, Jon, is a mystery of mood swings and life events that, in turn, run the range from top of the world to rock bottom. A well-crafted mixture of tragedy, lies, and undying love, the plot takes many twists to keep the reader guessing, but gives nothing up until the unexpected ending. Definitely recommended for readers who enjoy paranormal suspense!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ron King
    5.0 out of 5 stars Make way for the New Queen of Horror
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2022
    I absolutely LOVED the Simpleton! For Avon’s first horror novel, this does NOT disappoint. It’s a very well written horror/love story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. I was totally sucked into Jonathan’s world from the first page and couldn’t put the book down until the surprising end. You're on a suspenseful ride, as Avon’s clearly paints a picture of love, paranormal activity, and the psychological trauma of losing someone. I highly recommend this. Make way for the New Queen of Horror
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Gopi Bain
    5.0 out of 5 stars A mystery thriller with excellent prose and sharp storytelling
    Reviewed in Australia on February 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The book started by introducing a mysterious character. The presentation of the character was open to interpretation at the start and my imagination was suspended in a state where I couldn't quite delineate whether the character has good or evil intensions. I really enjoyed that.

    However, from there, the writer had craftily painted the picture of a man with a mysterious past who, despite the mistreatment of the people around him, has successfully made me invested in understanding his past, while at the same time, root for him.

    The story then goes on to introduce the second main character. The interaction between the two protagonists then makes up for some cleverly-written scenes, beautiful set-pieces and excellent character development, which culminates to a very good plot twist and exciting climax.

    To achieve all this in one book, one might assume it to be of great length. Yet, the book is just under a couple of hundred pages, which signifies the strength and efficiency of its prose. The Simpleton is a short, yet enjoyable read with ambitious writing that captures a multi-genre story in a sharp, engaging and crafty manner. The author deserves great praise for the book and it is book I'd recommend to anyone.
    Report
  • k chapman
    5.0 out of 5 stars A page turner!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Clear, crisp writing. Great read if you're into horror, keeps you guessing all the way to the end, hence great page turner!
    Report
See more reviews

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report