3.5 rounded up, purely due to the fact I really loved the historical part of the story. Unfortunately, the bits set in the present were mostly preposterous, full of unlikeable people doing stupid things, and some of the most eye rollingly convenient plot twists in the history of flip flop fiction. The paranormal element however, works really well, the malevolent spirit Farquhar terrorising both timelines with his stink, his groping and much much worse.

Overall, completely and utterly bonkers.