MEET Elle
Elle Jauffret is an award‑winning mystery author and former California criminal attorney whose work explores identity, perception, and hidden power structures. Born and raised in France, she draws on her legal background and cross‑cultural experience to craft character‑driven mysteries that blend psychological depth with social insight. Her Suddenly French Mysteries series follows a former criminal attorney-turned private chef and sleuth navigating questions of language, belonging, and truth. Elle Jauffret is a frequent panelist and moderator at writers’ conferences and festivals, where she speaks about writing craft, identity, and using mystery as a lens to examine how power operates beneath the surface of everyday life.
Elle also supports arts and cultural organizations in Southern California, including sponsorship of the San Diego French Film Festival.
If you want to know more about Elle, check her posts/follow her on Instagram (@ellejauffret) or feel free to contact her.
COMMUNITY & CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
- Member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Horror Writers Association, International Thriller Writers, etc.
- Write-In Host and mentor, Sisters in Crime
- Panel moderator, panelist, and conference presenter
- Write-In host, Shut-Up & Write
- Sponsor of the San Diego French Film Festival
AWARDS / DISTINCTIONS
- 2025 Agatha Award finalist for Best First Novel
- 2025 PenCraft Seasonal Book Award (Spring) Winner, Fiction: Mystery/Sleuth
- 2025 San Diego Public Library Short Story Contest finalist (horror)
- 2024 Claymore Award finalist (Best Juvenile/Y.A.) (survival story)
- 2023 New York International Women Festival award winner (short script) (horror)
- SDSU Writers' Conference Choice Award 2016 —The Girl of Salt and Feathers (historical thriller / culinary mystery).
- Pitch War 2015 mentorship —The Girl of Salt and Feathers (historical thriller/culinary mystery).