La Jolla author explores nationality and identity in new mystery novel: San Diego Union-Tribune

After moving to the United States from France 20 years ago, La Jolla resident Elle Jauffret went on to work as a criminal attorney for the California Attorney General’s office and in pediatric literacy at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Recently, she decided to add “novelist” to her resume.

In her debut novel, “Threads of Deception: A Suddenly French Mystery,” Jauffret explores her experience as a speaker and lawyer, albeit in a fictional setting, along with many twists and turns.

The story follows Claire, a high-profile lawyer who leaves Washington, DC, after an explosion destroys her law firm and turns her life upside down. Returning home to San Diego County, she discovers that her beloved friend has died. Convinced that her death was a homicide, Claire teams up with her childhood best friend to get to the bottom of the case.

But after the explosion, Claire is left with Foreign Accent Syndrome, a rare condition that causes people to speak with a different accent than her own. Although he was born in America, he must try to solve the case with a new French accent.

In Claire’s story, Jauffret saw an opportunity to challenge readers’ perceptions of what makes someone American. Although Jauffret was born in France, she has an extensive history in the United States, whether through her work as a criminal lawyer or her fundraising efforts as a Navy spouse.

“Most of the time, Americans don’t like to read about foreign characters,” he said. “They like to read about themselves, to experience things from a different point of view. So I needed her to be American. He wanted to show that his nationality and his Americanness could not be questioned at all, but the simple change in his life is his accent.”

Jauffret began writing “Threads of Deception” nearly two years ago to pursue his longtime goal of writing a novel. In researching the book market, he saw a growing demand for accessible stories that address social issues. He said he hopes to strike that delicate balance in his work.

“I want people to have fun, and I want them to not only have fun reading it, but I want them to come away with a deeper understanding that accents and speech variations do not reflect intelligence, competence, or potential of the person”, Jauffret. he said

“The United States is such a great country that it thrives on diversity and innovation. And that diversity is necessary to our identity.”

“Threads of Deception” is the first novel in a three-book deal Jauffret signed with Level Best Books. He said each book “is set in a different world” and addresses different social issues, many of them inspired by life in San Diego County.

His sophomore novel, set in the world of competitive surfing, will explore how people protect their spaces and their identities. Her third novel, inspired by San Diego Comic-Con, shows cosplayers and the lengths they will go to secure their jobs.

“Threads of Deception” will be released in both paperback and e-book on Tuesday, November 12. For additional information, visit ellejauffret.com. ♦