The Girl on the East Beach

Jay Delp Mysteries #2

by Douglas Pratt

Newly appointed Ocean Springs Police Chief Jay Delp is trying to rebuild a shattered department and reconnect with his family on the quiet Mississippi Gulf Coast—until the body of a teenage girl turns up on the beach and the town’s calm façade cracks. What first looks like an overdose quickly becomes a missing baby mystery, and when Jay discovers the girl had an infant daughter, he’s forced into a relentless investigation that points to exploitation, secrets, and people determined to keep the truth buried.

As Jay follows the trail through motels, back roads, and the underbelly of coastal Mississippi, the case shifts from tragedy to something far more sinister—putting his badge, his career, and the lives of the vulnerable at risk. The Girl on the East Beach is a gripping Southern crime thriller and police procedural packed with small-town secrets, Gulf Coast atmosphere, and high-stakes suspense—perfect for fans of Michael Connelly, John Sandford, Lisa Gardner, and gritty detective mysteries.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2025

About the author

Professor Douglas Pratt is Convenor, Graduate and International Student Adviser (Studies in Religion) at the University of Waikato, New Zealand.

Professor Pratt also holds appointments as Adjunct Professor (Theology & Interreligious Studies) at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and Adjunct Associate Professor (Research) in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University, Australia. A former President of the Australian Association for the Study of Religion (AASR) and the New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions (NZASR), Professor Pratt is the New Zealand Associate of the Australian-based UNESCO Chair in Intercultural and Interreligious Relations – Asia Pacific. He is also an Associate of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics (CSRP) at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

Professor Pratt's research interests focus on recent and contemporary topics to do with Christianity, Islam, Christian-Muslim relations, interreligious dialogue, and religious issues such as pluralism, fundamentalism and extremism.

Reviews

[Mrs P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chilling

I enjoyed the 2nd book in this series but felt it was a little bit too si
milar in terms of the whole plot and deciphering evidence scenarios. Still worth a read but as with the 1st it seemed to come to its conclusion quite fast towards the end no cliff hanger.

[Linda]

Great book .. Good storyline

Jay Delp certainly has his hands full in this book. Runway teen girls who just happen to be pregnant, A body on the beach, A ring of baby traffickers, it just goes on and on. What I liked best, and Doug does this in all his books I've read, is explain people and places that I can see in my head, feel like I'm there. I'm enjoying this series and I hope there's more to come. I like that Jay welcomes help from other colleagues including the FBI without the inter agency competing that's so prevalent in law enforcement. He's caring for his dad who's got Alzheimer's a!omg with his brother's help..it's job,family, reconnecting with his ex wife.. So many things without getting all messy.. Doug, ya did it again..🌹

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jay Delp is back home as the new police chief, getting acclimated to his job & the politics with the mayor & town council.

He's called to the scene of a dead body found on East Beach. The young female teen was murdered. This opens up all sorts of related crimes against what turns out to be murdered pregnant teens .

The past crimes, never linked are in multiple jurisdictions and calling the FBI in has the mayor all over him- bad press effects the tourist season. Jay and his new crew of deputies unearth more than they ever wanted to know but their diligence is rewarded.

About a 3.5 for me.

[Janet Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is the Mississippi Mafia a Thing?
This book is the second in a series that should be read in order because they do follow a timeline. Each book has a complete crime mystery, but the details of book 1 influence book 2. Most of this episode is wrapped around interpersonal relationships, which don't seem to be related to crime. Maybe that will change in the next book. This book has little foul language, no gore, little violence, and only closed-door intimacy.

[Lawrence K. Wickham, MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay Delp, originally a supporting character in the Chase Gordon series, has bloomed into a stand-alone main “man!” Great fleshing out of Delp’s life, family and friends.
A very interesting and well written 2 books to date and I’m looking forward to the future as events seem to be building into a “run-in” with the local good old boys “mafia!”

[Jeff Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chief Delp and his officers have their hands full with this one when the body of a young girl is found on East Beach. She was only 15 and, apparently had a baby recently. The baby was nowhere to be found. It soon becomes a multi-county investigation when more girls fitting the profile, are found. Finally, it becomes an FBI investigation. There are also some interesting subplots.

[Denise Jermyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home Town

Lived in Ocean Springs from 1972 until 2009, kinda nostalgic. Remember when the Klan solicited donations at the intersection of Hwy 90 and Hwy 57. It was a beautiful small town in its day.

[Wilbur Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book

The Girl on the East Beach is a great Jay Delp mystery. Jay continues to learn more about his home town while solving the mystery. It’s an exciting, well written thriller. A great read.

[John Taussig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite but ok

I like the hero Jay - but thought the storyline a bit slow. Obviously a set up for future books by planting all the appropriate seeds and unanswered questions to be. Resolved in later books. Not sure if I will participate.

[david cribbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vic review

This book is for those who like very dark murder mysteries. This story depicts the plodding research that goes into solving crimes and how small details results into solving the crimes.

[Becky Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. It just went away from the mystery too much to keep me intrigued. If I had wanted a book about relationships and the politics of police work I would have read something different. I think this book forgot that it started with a mystery at times.

[Kendall Poynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

I enjoyed it from the first chapter. Hard to put down. Can’t wait for what’s next. Great characters. Who wins next.

[Lori Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a good series, I'm enjoying the character