The Body in the Bayou: A Jay Delp Mystery Thriller

Jay Delp Mysteries #3

by Douglas Pratt

Ocean Springs, Mississippi has always had a talent for secrets. The kind that sink into the bayou and stay there — until they don't.

In The Body in the Bayou, ex-Marine sniper turned Ocean Springs Chief of Police Jay Delp catches a murder case that refuses to stay small. What starts as a single body pulled from the water grows into something that reaches into the highest levels of this tight-knit Gulf Coast community — and straight into Jay's own life.

Douglas Pratt's third Jay Delp Mystery delivers the sharp procedural detail, dark Gulf Coast atmosphere, and small-town political tension that have made this series a go-to for fans of Southern crime fiction. Ocean Springs comes alive on every page — the bayous, the beach bars, the old families with long memories — a setting as vivid and layered as any character in the book.

The Jay Delp Mystery Series — Southern crime fiction set on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Readers who enjoy police procedurals, Southern noir, Gulf Coast mysteries, small-town crime fiction, and ex-military detective series will find a lot to love here.

Also by Douglas Pratt: Books one and two in the Jay Delp Mystery Series.

Keywords: Ocean Springs mystery, Mississippi Gulf Coast fiction, Southern crime fiction, Gulf Coast thriller, police procedural series, small-town mystery, Southern noir, Mississippi mystery novel, ex-Marine detective, coastal Mississippi fiction

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2026

About the author

Douglas Pratt was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been writing since the third grade. During high school, Douglas dabbled in short stories and poems.

Douglas graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Journalism. He lives in Mason, Tennessee, and spends his spare time on his sailboat.

Reviews

[Linda Demaree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series as it takes place in my home town, but I do really hate cliff hangers and this one just ended . . . WHAM! Clever way to get you to keep buying the next in the series. A body in the bayou. A throat cut clean. No witnesses, no prints, just a dead man. Police chief Jay Delp and his team keep digging for answers, but every clue they turn up seems to lead to more questions. Well, I am invested now so I will be reading the next one. I wonder how long it will take to mine the depths of Terry's mind to find out the family history and secrets. Stay tuned for the next in this series.

[Ricki · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the second in the Jay Delp series, I'm still not finding it as good as the Chase Gordon series. In those books, when Jay Delp appeared as Chase's friend and go to sniper, he was more compelling.

In this series, he's just average Chief of Police. Delp and his two detectives (Towns/Lawson) are looking into the murder of a body found in the bayou. There's little evidence, lots of driving around to other towns and some more family drama for Delp.

I was hoping for more but it fell short especially when the reader is left with a cliff hanger at the end of the book.

[Chuck Woodbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spend some time with Chief Delp.

Another great procedural mystery to solve for Jay and his officers as a body is found in the bayou. But the mystery takes an awkward turn and seemingly unrelated events in the past are strangely related to the events of today. A lost left unresolved so I hope Mr Pratt writes faster. Bravo.

[G.Richard Mccafferty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good story

This was a good book lots coming in the next book action good writer tied it all together for us that read and hunger for the next in series ciao from Bob his and George

[Wilbur Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book

The Body in the Bayou is another exciting Jay Delp mystery thriller. This book goes deeper into the background on Ocean Springs area and its people while Pratt spins and interesting story with a surprise ending. A fun read.

[Sirshap · Rating 1 out of 5]

WTF

Where is the rest of the book? It just ends. Nothing solved still in middle of everything. Not sure what happened. Before this book I really liked this author. This series was good until this unfinished crap. Might need to re think reading any more

[Jeff Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent Jay Delp adventure!

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine read.

Damn this gets better and better. Slot of fish in the frying pan. Its going to be along wait for the next book. Better make it good.

[Roy Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Body in the bayou

Great storyline, great characters and really good investigating. I wish Chase Gordon would turn up for a visit and take out the bad guys for Jay.

[Cherime MacFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate cliffhangers

The writing is good but I don't like being dropped that way one
Little bit. Maybe I don't want to know what happens next at all.

[Mark Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body in the Bayou

Great book. I love the series, can’t wait for book 4! The Jay Delp series is one of the best detective books out there.