Mystery Friends: Elle Jauffret

Daphne (left), Elle Jauffret (middle), and KB Jackson (right) at Malice Domestic 2025

lf you love mysteries, then you'll love meeting my mystery author friends! This month I'm excited to introduce you to Elle Jauffret, my Level Best bestie who writes awesome traditional mysteries. Her first: THREADS OF DECEPTION, A Suddenly French Mystery, was nominated for an Agatha Award, and I can't wait for you to read her next in November (I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek!)

Doesn't Elvis look awesome?

About Threads of Deception:

Thirty-five-year-old Claire Fontaine had it all as a successful D.C. defense attorney until a criminal explosion shattered her career and left her with a debilitating French foreign accent syndrome. To make matters worse, her neurologist ordered her to take a break from the law and the FBI urged her to lay low. She’s also broke. Her only marketable skill is the culinary expertise she’s gained through countless cooking classes for singles. Forced to embrace a new path as a private chef, Claire accepts the invitation of a rising fashion designer friend to move back to her Southern California hometown to cater for a fashion TV show—only to find said friend dead.

Desperate to prove it wasn't a suicide but a murder, Claire teams up with her childhood best friend, Suggie Oh, the town's beloved accountant. She also forms a tension-filled alliance with charismatic Detective Ben Torres, who reluctantly accepts her cooperation and with whom she’s forced to share an apartment.

As she investigates, Claire glimpses into the world of competitive fashion, political campaigns, and ex-lovers’ vendettas. But getting closer to the truth may not be as safe as juggling knives in a dark kitchen.

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About Elle:

Elle Jauffret is a French-born American writer, former criminal attorney with the California Attorney General’s Office, military spouse, and culinary enthusiast. Her debut novel, Threads of Deception, was praised as a “powerful, complex, and compelling mystery” by New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry and was called “a smart and fresh new voice” by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Elle is an active member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. Her Suddenly French Mystery series, set in the coastal charm of San Diego County, blends her love of intricate plotting with the warm, inviting atmosphere cozy mystery readers adore. She is also a proud Claymore Award finalist, and when she’s not writing, she can be found hosting events for Sisters in Crime, appearing on panels at conventions like WonderCon and Comic-Con, or speaking at writer’s conferences such as the Southern California Writers' Conference.

A lifelong lover of puzzles and adventure, Elle is a fan of escape rooms and enjoys diving into mystery and thriller stories in all forms. She lives by the ocean with her family and invites readers to join her on a journey of mystery, intrigue, and a touch of French flair.

Find her at ellejauffret.com or on social media @ellejauffret.

Tell us the name of your main characters. If you had to describe them in only three words, what would they be?

Claire Fontaine: Legally-driven, charming, passionate

Is there something your protagonist can't live without? What and why?

Claire can't live without her phone—it’s not just her catering calendar, recipe book, and grocery list, but also a crucial connection to her best friend, Suggie, and a lifeline (GPS tracker) that once saved her life during a deadly chase.

Who would play your character in the tv/movie version of your book?

Rachel McAdams or Pauline Chamalet

Does your sleuth have a pet? If so, what's their name and animal type? If not, what kind of pet would they love to have?

Claire Fontaine is planning on adopting a couple of rescue dogs or cats when she settles in her own home. The dogs would be called: “Nutmeg” and “Waffle” and the cats “RBG” (for Ruth Bader Ginsberg) and “Justice”.

If your sleuth was giving a tour of your town/setting, where would they take the reader to first? Why did they choose that spot?

If my sleuth, Claire Fontaine, were giving a tour of Caper Cove, she would start at The Osprey, her retired-cop father’s beachside bistro and taco shop to make sure everyone begin their day with a delicious breakfast or lunch. The Osprey opens at dawn to serve local surfers who ride the waves before heading to work, and by midday it's filled with tourists drawn by the promise of fresh seafood and a laid-back vibe. It’s also the heartbeat of the town where you’ll find everyone from the mayor to fishermen, and the occasional celebrity, all in the same spot at different times of the day.

Then she would lead you to the lighthouse at the far edge of the cove – the cornerstone of Caper Cove and its very first building from when the town was just a fledgling settlement. The stories surrounding it are as old as the town itself, and Claire has always been captivated by the myths, legends, and spooky tales that swirl around the lighthouse. Growing up with her childhood friend Suggie, she spent countless hours exploring the grounds, inventing their own ghost stories and imagining the secrets hidden within its weathered walls.

Any other fun things we should know?

One fun aspect I particularly love is how Claire's foreign accent syndrome creates this wonderful fish-out-of-water situation. Here she is, returning to her hometown, but everyone assumes she's a French tourist! It adds such a delicious layer of misunderstandings and assumptions to the story.

Caper Cove itself is really special to me. While it's bustling with tourists, it still maintains that intimate small-town feel that's so essential to a cozy mystery. I love the irony of Claire seeking refuge there, only to have it become the site of its first murder! And the setting—with the beach cafés and the soothing Pacific waves —creates this deceptively peaceful backdrop for all the mysterious goings-on.

I'm also proud of the character relationships woven throughout the story. You've got Claire's unexpected shift from criminal attorney to private chef, her deep friendship with Suggie Oh, and the delightful romantic tension with Detective Torres who is her surprise roommate. I particularly enjoy how Claire's sophisticated legal background plays against her new role in the community.

The story really lets me play with different genres: there's mystery, of course, but also romantic comedy elements, legal tidbits, and some mouth-watering culinary scenes. And there's just something so satisfying about watching Claire, who's been forced to set aside her legal career to become a chef, end up investigating a murder anyway.

Now let's find out a little bit about you! Who or what first inspired you to write mysteries?

My connection to mystery writing wasn't inspired by any single individual or moment--it's an inherent part of who I am. As a young child, I was captivated by life's fundamental mysteries: wondering where lightning came from, questioning whether extraterrestrial beings existed, and devouring Enid Blyton's Famous Five series. I've been crafting stories, especially mysteries, since before I could write them down. For me, life itself is an intricate mystery, with each element holding untold depths waiting to be explored. This natural inclination toward mystery storytelling has always been present: from childhood imagination to maternal storytelling, and now to professional writing. My work as a criminal attorney has only reinforced this predisposition, as each case presents a complex mystery requiring careful unraveling to reveal the truth. Mystery writing isn't merely a chosen path, it's my way of seeing and interpreting the world.

Where do you do most of your writing? Do you have any rituals or must-haves?

I do most of my writing at my desk, settled in a corner of my bedroom. I always keep a steaming cup of green tea nearby - there's something so calming about that gentle aroma while I'm working. When the writing or editing gets particularly challenging, I switch to hot chocolate for that extra comfort boost!

When it comes to my writing rituals, I play storm sounds while I write. Living in Southern California, we don't get many rainstorms, so I've found that playing recordings of rain and thunder helps create the perfect cozy atmosphere. There's something about the sound of rushing water that really helps me stay focused and engaged with my story. It's almost like being transported to a stormy day on the coast of Caper Cove with Claire.

A random fact about you that might surprise readers?  

I graduated from two law schools - one in France and one in the United States - making me a bilingual attorney with law degrees from both countries.

Lastly, where can readers connect with you?

https://www.instagram.com/ellejauffret/ or https://ellejauffret.com/Contact (newsletter subscription)

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