Colette has followed family tradition, stealing jewels from people who do bad things. Now 70 years later she sees a set of jewels on display in a museum she thought had long disappeared with her dead sister. She's sure if she can find out who the museum received the jewels from, she will finally learn who killed her sister.

Rated 4.75. My first Kristin Harmel and I really enjoyed it. I'm drawn to the dual timeline stories and especially WWII stories. The story of Colette pulled me in and I really did not want to put it down. Even as I turned the last page, I was hoping for another chapter. The character development was wonderful and I loved that so many were of an older generation. I will highly recommend this one to many others! Special thanks to Gallery Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy; all opinions are my own.

No one does historical fiction quite like KH. Well researched, atmospheric, with well developed characters and little known histories brought to life? Sign me up. This was fascinating and so well done!!

This was perfection! It had suspense and kept me engaged. A modern day Robin Hood of sorts. I loved it!

I would just like to start by stating that it is mind boggling to me that I’ve never read anything by Kristin Harmel before.

What absolutely phenomenal story telling. If you are a fan of historical fiction - add this to your reading list NOW. People are so resilient, and not only did this story leave you in a state of suspense and awe, but what an overall layered and emotional story told here.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

I typically enjoy Kristin Harmel's version of historical fiction for her blend of a historical setting combined with the heart of the people involved. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is an involving and moving read, and I enjoyed my time with these characters. My only quibble is with how neatly everything comes together ( I had a NO She didn't moment) and for that this one is 4 stars instead of the 5 stars I was leaning toward. Either way, it's a good read, and I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher gifting me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is available now.

An intriguing WW2 story about generations of jewel thieves! At first it was surprising to read about an octogenarian character having such an active lifestyle, but once I got to know Colette, it made more sense, and I was cheering her on. The Robin Hood style justice being carried out seems to bother some of the reviewers, but I think the author does a good job of explaining how the people being stolen from were guilty of much worse. I think it would be interesting to discuss this with my club to see how everyone feels.

Wow!

Collette was stealing during the French Resistance, but then her young sister and mother are arrested and killed. There was a bracelet in the hem of her little sister’s dress and no one has ever found it. Now, so many years later Colette Realizes where it is. There is a whole story behind it and Colette’s Tragic History.

Captivating Story. Loved Reading the Author’s Notes and Processing how the message of the book reflected events happening in Kristin Harmel’s Life. A Book about Identity, how to survive horrible times and come out on the other side, the parts of ourselves we shut down to survive and the effect that can have, and ultimately if hope and love can prevail even late in life.

So, for me this Book tells an Intimate Story both about Colette, but also about Kristin Harmel. She was contracted to write this book, but found out she had Breast Cancer. While being treated, she found she could not write, which is a huge part of her identity. The same is true for Colette and Being a Modern Day Robin Hood. What happens when our essence is challenged? Can we make it through and make it through well. This book has Kristin’s soul baked into it. Reading it, you feel the sense of hope against seemingly impossible odds. So, to Read this and know how much Kristin had done to achieve writing again, really is the book to me. It speaks to my heart. It says community, friends, and family really can get us through the very worst of times. Kristin Harmel, you touch my heart. Beautiful Book, Beautiful Woman 🎀 I went through this 3X with my Mom and she lived to see another day. Lived until 85 Years Old. Reading Changes Us, Reading Reveals Us, Reading Makes Us Feel.

Thank you NetGalkey and Gallery Books for this book. I always leave reviews of Books I Read. I always leave reviews of books I read.

A WWII novel with so much heart and some mystery. Harmel is my favorite for wrapping up a story in a neat and tidy bow. I loved the characters and was rooting for them from the beginning. I also loved the different feel from most other war stories. If you're tired of that trope, this is not those!

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is Kristin Harmel's best novel to date! Beautifully written and expertly crafted, it will pull you in from page one.

I loved this book! It was a different take on a Holocaust story -- the idea of a female Robin Hood was intriguing and made me root for Collette throughout the story. It was a true page turner, one I'd highly recommend!

Thanks @gallerybooks for the advanced copy!

Kristin Harmel is one of my auto-read authors, but her books almost always have that one thing that keeps them from being 5 stars—and this one had a big one.

The emotional threads were there—grief, identity, found family—but the Robin Hood descendant angle? Honestly, it was just too far-fetched. I never bought into it, and it left the whole story feeling shaky. Without a believable foundation, even the heartfelt moments didn’t land the way they should have.

The pacing was fine, the tension steady, and the ending wrapped things up with a neat bow, but overall this one left me feeling like I read a different book than everyone else (no shade if you love it). If you’re a Harmel fan, you’ll still recognize her trademark style, but for me, this is fell flat.

Kristin Harmel is a brilliant author, which is quite evident from this latest read.
I am, always, so impressed with literature trying to make sense of the Holocaust. Here she has written a book beginning with the invasion of Paris by the Nazis. Even though so much has been written on the subject, Harmel always brings a new perspective to the unimaginable events that transpired during World War II.
It has all the elements of a spellbinding story--there's history intermingled with a thoughtful who-dun-it. There are the complexity of relationships and the strength of character alongside the weakness of character.
The characters are fascinating and the timeline switching proved very effective. An unforgettable read!

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Krisitin Harmel is a beautiful story of survival and hope. The heartbreak and the heroism is so good.

The life of Colette is so sad, rewarding, remarkable.I loved how the book connected all the characters from youth to adulthood.. The butterfly diamond necklaces were a love forever. Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the preview of this lovely book!

If you already love Kristin Harmel’s work, The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau will feel like a masterclass in what she does best: weaving historical intrigue, emotional depth, and moral complexity into a story that lingers long after the final page. 
The story follows Colette Marceau, a jewel thief with a code: steal only from the cruel and redistribute to those in need. It’s a tradition passed down from her mother, Annabel, who used their skills to fund the French Resistance during WWII. But one fateful night in 1942 shatters everything. Annabel is arrested, Colette’s young sister disappears, and a priceless diamond bracelet vanishes into history. Decades later, that same bracelet resurfaces in a Boston museum, and Colette must confront the ghosts she’s spent a lifetime outrunning.
This book asks a haunting question: when the past is painful, is it better left untouched? Colette’s journey is a testament to the power of truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it threatens the identity you’ve built. Harmel doesn’t offer easy answers, but she does offer catharsis. The emotional unraveling of Colette’s life is both heartbreaking and liberating, showing how confronting the past can be the key to reclaiming your future.
Is Robin Hood real? A myth? A legend? In Colette, Harmel gives us a modern-day embodiment of that archetype flawed, noble, and deeply human. The novel doesn’t romanticize theft, but it does challenge us to consider the ethics of rebellion. If breaking the law serves a greater good, does that make it right? Colette’s decades of “redistributing” wealth blur the line between justice and crime, forcing readers to wrestle with their own moral compass.
Kristin Harmel has once again delivered a story that’s rich in atmosphere, layered in emotion, and brimming with questions that matter. If you’re drawn to stories that challenge your heart and your head, this one’s a gem.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

This book is the story of an elderly French woman, Colette Marceau, that lost her family in World War two. She came from a family that were jewel thieves. Like the story of Robin Hood, she stole from evil people (especially nazis) and gave the money to the French Resistance. In later years, the stolen jewels helped to fund Holocaust Museums. The story includes flashbacks and stories of her early life as well as her current life in Boston.

I found the book a little slow at the beginning. I was glad that I forced myself to keep reading. The mystery surrounding one particular piece of stolen jewelry, a diamond bracelet, one of a pair, intertwines Colette’s past and present. By the end of the book, it was hard to put down. I was anxious to see the mystery solved and how each character in Colette’s life was brought together.

If you enjoy historical fiction this may be the book for you. The characters were interesting and the story was well written.

Kristin Harmel, I declare, this book is pretty close to perfect when considering and evaluating my love for the historical fiction genre. I loved it! I sent a copy to my mother right away via mail. She’s going to love it too! I really would give it a 10 stars out of 5 stars if rating scales worked that way.

The story was set during World War II, specifically the German occupation in Paris. The Marceau family were known to steal an item or two here and there. Who am I kidding? They secretly stole expensive jewels as regularly as possible so that they could serve as vigilantes. Essentially, they stole from the rich to give to the poor…much like Robin Hood and his gang.

Beautifully written, very interesting, and with a strong female lead, I’d say this book reminds me of The Alice Network, The Boston Girl, and The Nightingale. This book may win 2025 for me. Please don’t wait. Rush out today to buy your copy!

Jewels, Justice, and a Lifetime of Secrets

✦✦✦✦½

Kristin Harmel once again proves why she’s one of today’s leading voices in historical fiction with The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau. This isn’t just a war story—it’s a jewel heist, a decades-old mystery, and a family drama rolled into one glittering package.

Colette Marceau has always lived by her mother’s code: steal only from the cruel and use the spoils to help others. But everything changed in 1942 Paris when a Resistance mission went sideways. Her cousin Annabel was executed, her little sister vanished, and the diamond bracelet sewn into a nightgown disappeared with her. Seventy years later, that very bracelet turns up in a Boston museum, forcing Colette to reopen the darkest chapter of her past.

Harmel is at her best here—balancing taut wartime suspense with an emotional modern-day thread about grief, resilience, and redemption. The WWII scenes crackle with danger and heartbreak, while the contemporary storyline offers a softer, more reflective counterpoint.

This is part heist, part family saga, and part meditation on forgiveness. In short, it’s vintage Harmel: rich, layered, and hard to put down. Fans of The Book of Lost Names and The Paris Daughter will want this one at the top of their stack.

** Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a comp. Opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

This story is told in dual timelines and follows Colette in 1942 Paris and 2018 Boston. Colette was taught by her mother Annabel to be a thief and is quiet adept at lifting jewelry, but they only robbed the undeserved and gave the proceeds to those in need, funding the French Resistance in the former timeline and later a Holocaust foundation in Boston.

I was immediately drawn into both timelines in this story. I loved the character of Colette, her audacious personality and gifts, as well as her love for family and response to injustice. On a fateful night in the earlier timeline, Colette lost several members of her family and later became obsessed with finding out what happened to them and who was responsible for their deaths. There was also a heartbreaking romance involved that brought me to tears at several points.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters that supported Colette through her journey. It was truly both a heartbreaking and uplifting story. Destined to be one of my favorite reads this year. Recommended to historical fiction lovers.