Buried Secrets (Daphne and Velma, #3) (2024)

After such a long wait, I had hoped to give the final product a much higher rating. To be fair to this work, it suffers from things that are not the writer's fault. The main issue is that it was released almost two years later than its initial publication date. For reasons that even the author claims to not know, Scholastic Publishing cancelled the release of this book on the very day of its original projected release and then never announced when the book finally did come out. I found out about its eventual publication weeks later when I just happened to be doing a routine check here on Goodreads; I had removed the book from my "Want to Read" list almost a year previously because I had begun to doubt the book would ever be released.

If it had come out when it was originally intended, I probably would have rated it 4 stars (if I was feeling generous); but with as long as the wait was, I couldn't help but hope that it would turn out to be better than it was. The longer wait gave me higher expectations, regardless of the fact that I knew the author hadn't requested longer for rewrites or anything like that.

In terms of pros, we finally have all four of the Mystery Inc. gang working together (Fred is finally part of the investigation! Yay!) Daphne and Velma are still the focus and the ones doing the crux of the investigative work, but Shaggy and Fred are in on some of the shenanigans and contribute key ideas to search. It's also a fun mystery with real stakes as there is an actual murder in this one. There are also no shortage of suspects and the overall mystery of the trilogy continues to be discussed in this final installment.

But the negatives are very glaring as well. For one, the mystery was WAY too easy to solve. Granted, I know I'm a lot older than the main intended demographic for this series, but I knew who the perpetrator would be the minute they were mentioned in passing. And I figured out the twist about who was masquerading as a certain character really quickly too. And my figuring it out so quickly just made me dislike Velma for being so easily duped into believing so negatively about someone she claims to love and refusing to listen to them. Honestly, I didn't like her through the majority of this novel because even though she's acknowledging repeatedly to herself that she's being unfair, she doesn't change her attitude or her behavior. And yet no one calls her out on it. And I don't care that she's a teenager; Daphne sees what's happening and knows what Velma is thinking and knows it's wrong and still does nothing. In my mind, that makes both of them culpable for everything that followed afterward.

And then we have the ending... which isn't an ending. This was marketed as a trilogy, but the last page sets up for a novel that we're well aware isn't coming. I was okay with not getting the overall answer about what happened to the original colonists who Vanished three hundred years previously. I mean, I grew up on the story of the Roanoke Colony, so historical mysteries are really fun to me, and I don't really mind that we only have theories and will likely never have definitive answers. But, then Baden set up for another leg of the investigation in such a way that it made it clear that a real "answer" was planned for this overall mystery. But this is the last book in the trilogy, and we almost didn't even get that, and yet Baden spends the last five pages setting up another novel that is not listed as a possibility for publication. It just leaves me feeling very hollow after a final, mostly underwhelming, mystery novel.

i can’t believe i had to read velma and fred crushing on each other with my own eyes

Ok. There were a couple reasons I read this book. Firstly, I was always a fan of Scooby Doo, since the day I watched it, when I was 3. I was always scared of the Miner 49er, for good reason. He had no eyes and the beard was off-putting, because he barely had a face. Another reason I read this book was because I needed something new to read, and I wanted to finish a series, so I figured "Why not?" The last reason I read this, was because after watching the first episode of Velma, I was shocked. Where was Scooby? It got me annoyed, and caused me to reminded me how much I love Scooby-Doo. This was a nostalgia trip,meaning it felt like I knew the familiar faces. I remembered loving books 1 and 2 in this trilogy, so I picked up the final one. And this one was my favorite. You are probably tired of hearing my banter about why I chose this book, and I wanted to actually review it. So let's get onto the actual review.

Reading this book was truly a fun experience. This branched off from the other two books in the best way. This book finally brought Fred, Shaggy and Scooby to the mix. Yes they were in the other books, but in this one, they all finally get together to work and solve the mystery. Just that was enough to make me happy. Speaking of characters, this story showed development in everyone's relationship. It also changed what we usually know, such as Velma is pining for Fred in this novel. This modernized version includes modern technology, but the characters are true to themselves. Velma and Daphne have not made out.

Onto my thoughts on the story line. This is the final book in the trilogy, and I think it was my favorite. This was the darkest of the three, and I enjoyed that. In all of the Scooby-Doo shows and movie, there was never the death of any character (except Mystery Inc.) , and this book had characters dying left and right. It was a change in everything I knew, and I found it only added to the story. This is the most adult Scooby Doo should go. Velma, the HBO show, was pushing it way past what should be, but this hit the mark perfectly.

The Trilogy Overall

My overall thoughts on the trilogy are that it is a must read. These books aren't too long, which makes it more enjoyable for people who have short attention spans. I loved every minute of reading these books. If you are a fan of:

- Scooby Doo (any kind)

This book is a must read.

what do you mean one of the hex girls has a crush on velma but velma is straight and trying to get with fred?

So I waited two years for this book (after the inexplicable delay that the author had no knowledge about because I asked her) for this? For the third book in a trilogy with a huge mystery threaded throughout the series to not be any closer to being solved? What was the point then. 😐

Is there going to be another book? I doubt it, seeing as this one barely even got published. Why would you not solve the mystery and make it seem like there will be more when there most likely won’t be???

I didn’t like the style or tone of the writing, Velma comes off condescending when she would start off chapters with, “here’s the thing: blah blah blah” or explaining things to the reader who could 150% figure it out for themselves without being told.

I thought Shaggy’s voice and characteristics were good, but somehow Daphne and Velma both come across as very surface level characters that we only ever hear have issues but we never see them being dealt with or felt. Fred was Fred, and there should have been more Scooby. As a lifelong fan of Scooby-Doo these books are pale versions of what could be done with these characters and this world.

Oh and the ending with Daphne and Ram being ~okay~ again? She’s 16 and he’s a college student!?!?!? I said that about their relationship in the second one, I don’t understand it. Same with the Shaggy/Daphne pairing and Fred/Velma. Gives me the ick. 🥴🤮

I would read another one because I just freaking want to know what happened, but I probably wouldn’t enjoy it too much.

FAVOURITE QUOTES

“The crowd was buzzing with nervous energy, full of teenage hormones and star-studded dreams.”

“Our legacy here in Crystal Cove was one of secrets, of unknowable histories that bled into the present day.”

Not who I thought it was. Can't really say too much because this is the third book.

It was left on a cliffhanger. And they are not making any more thats not right, yall. They should make more for sure.

scholastic publishing you will pay for your crimes! i need more books but i doubt that’s gonna happen

This series is cute, even if it's a little young. It brings back memories of watching Scooby-Doo on Saturday mornings as a kid.

Just enough Scooby-Doo-ness to keep me reading.

The books were good. Sucks you're hooked by a map only to have it all be over.

3.5

First reaction4.5 stars because that ending makes me feel like there's another book coming when I know there isn't 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

# # # # # # #

It’s been a long time waiting for this book to come out, and it did not disappoint!

Now that Daphne and Velma’s friendship is solid again, they’re an unstoppable sleuthing duo and are ready to solve the next mystery that hits Crystal Cove – finding out who is trying to sabotage the TV series being shot there and why. As always, it’s fun to try to solve the mystery while reading, but unfortunately, I was wrong. To be fair, there’s a number of shady characters in this, so it literally could have been anyone.

As in the first two books, I love the relationship between Daphne and Velma. Now that they’re back to being best friends, they banter like nothing ever changed between them. In fact, they barely mention the time when they weren’t friends, which shows that they’ve moved past it. I also love how they care not only for each other, but their families and friends as well. Especially since some of the mystery revolves around Shaggy’s family, the girls are concerned for his mental health and well-being.

The stakes are raised in this mystery, as the person out to sabotage this doesn’t are who gets hurt. So Daphne and Velma have to hurry to solve the mystery before anyone get does get seriously injured, or worse. And when the stakes are raised, you know the book is going to be good.

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first two, and I really wish this wasn’t the last one. Especially since there’s a mystery about Crystal Cove itself that doesn’t get solved, and the way the book ends feels sort of like a cliffhanger/lead to another book. From the author’s social media, this is the last one, so I’m not expecting another book.

In any case, I recommend the Daphne and Velma series to all Scooby-Doo fans!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars