Mystery Countdown Short Story

I’m looking for a writer who can turn my suspense-thriller concept into a polished short story that grips from the first line and leaves readers stunned at the end.

Here’s the seed you’ll work with: a mysterious clock shop appears in an otherwise quiet town, and every clock inside counts down the exact lifespan of whoever looks at it. My protagonist is a young investigative journalist who discovers a clock bearing his own name with only 24 hours remaining. By the final page the reader must learn, in a truly shocking twist, that the shopkeeper has been manipulating the town for generations.

Scope & length
• A complete, self-contained short story (3,500–5,000 words is the sweet spot, but I’m flexible if the pacing demands a little more or less).
• Tight suspense, atmospheric detail, and a clear investigative through-line.
• A twist ending that feels earned—no loose threads, no deus-ex-machina.

What will win me over
– Strong command of tension building à la Shirley Jackson or Gillian Flynn.
– Vivid yet economical prose that keeps the pages turning.
– An ability to seed clues so the final reveal lands hard but feels inevitable in hindsight.

Deliverable
A single, proofread manuscript in Word or Google Docs, ready for my editorial pass. Please include a brief (one-paragraph) synopsis outlining the core beats so I can see how you plan to execute before you dive into the draft.

If you thrive on crafting unsettling mysteries with jaw-dropping endings, I’d love to read your proposal and a sample of similar work.