DNF. I tried, I really did try, but I could not finish. Excellent premise for a story--that of a "scooby gang" finding out there was always something more lurking behind their innocent childhood mysteries. I really liked who the characters are in the present and where they've traveled since their childhood, and I liked their various reactions to returning. But this book badly needs some editing. It was nowhere near ready to be sent out as an ARC. One thing that drove me bats was the author's resistance to "said" instead using words like "wowed" and "tragichuckled."

I would like to read this book someday after it's gone through a few rounds of editing. I think there's an entertaining story in there.

[I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.]

This was fun in a "blast from the past" way. I was always a fan of "Scooby Doo", so it was really fun to read this and imagine the "Scooby Gang" back at it again. I would recommend this to those who were fans of the show.

As a diehard fan of that cartoon series that Cantero draws reference from, I was a bit skeptical that an alternate version would work. But as different as the story was from that childhood favorite, there was just as much to love and enjoy from an adult perspective in this. Very nicely done and well worth the read if you're looking for something that blends nostalgia, intrigue and a healthy dose of spooky.

So this is a schlocky romp where an approximation of the Scooby Doo gang is all grown up and fighting the Old Gods. It's silly at times and there are some problematic things in the book, but if you don't mind over the top, campy horror, you will probably enjoy this. However, the story was not strong enough to overcome the problematic issues I had with the book.

First off, I gotta say this is a fantastic premise for a book--one which will likely make any child of the 70s squeal. It's basically the Scooby Gang if all the stuff the gang THOUGHT was going on was actually happening. In other words, there is no guy in a spooky mask faking it all, there are actually people being raised from the dead and walking wheezing demons and blood offerings.

So, is this a scary book? Eh. I'm not sure I'm the right one to ask. Likely might be for some. Certainly spooky. Certainly funny though, too.

There is a lot going on in this book, stylistically. Too much? Perhaps. Sometimes the editorial adventures (like switching from narration or script style or entire paragraphs that appeared to be one sentence, or blurring the line between what's written and what's read-- i.e. "two lines later, they were still stunned") were delightful, but other times I felt like I was sitting on the floor in front of a newly woken puppy, shouting "JUST HOLD STILL SO I CAN ACTUALLY LOVE YOU!"

Basically whoever edited this book has some serious balls. Even if I didn't always appreciate that fact while I was READING the book, I appreciate the spirit, overall.

The Blyton Summer Detective Club is not to be mistaken for the Scooby-Doo gang. This group is totally different. ;) A fun mash up of Saturday morning cartoons, Cthulhu and craziness. Best read with a huge bowl of sugar cereal. Loved it!