Richard Marsh 
The Death Whistle 

As the story opens in Canterstone Jail, George Edney, a dying convict, leaves all his ill-gotten goods to Andrew Bruce, a “good-conduct” man whose term of two years is nearly at an end. After Bruce obtains his freedom, he locates the “buried treasure” Edney had hidden, and tries to find answers to the questions it raises. A story with a bit of something for everyone: a handsome hero, a beautiful heroine, many dastardly villains. Crime, mystery, romance, a touch of weird science, a taste of the supernatural too. A bit over the top, but great fun.