Story Idea : The Curse of the Peculiar Hat

Whilst investigating the death of a local author, a popular nurse called Andrew Thornhill uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, peculiar hat circulating throughout Devon. As soon as anyone uses the hat, he or she has exactly 55 days left to live.

The doomed few appear to be ordinary people during day to day life, but when photographed, they look pickled. A marked person feels like a peculiar horse to touch.

Andrew gets hold of the hat, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flash into his mind: a chubby tortoise balancing on a cosy author, an old newspaper headline about a flying accident, a hooded pigeon ranting about eyebrows and a drinking well located in an industrial place.

When Andrew notices his lips have horse-like properties, he realises that the curse of the peculiar hat is true and calls in his niece, a psychiatrist called Annabelle Ferguson, to help.

Annabelle examines the hat and willingly submits herself to the curse. She finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. She finds the chubby tortoise balancing on a cosy author particularly chilling. She joins the queue for a supernatural death.

Andrew and Annabelle pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded pigeon. Will they be able to stop the curse before their time is up?