A huge thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my gifted copy of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel!

As a longtime historical fiction reader—especially of World War II novels—I’m always looking for fresh perspectives in a well-explored genre. Kristin Harmel never disappoints. She consistently delivers beautifully written, meticulously researched novels that shed light on lesser-known aspects of the Holocaust, and this book is no exception.

I was immediately pulled into the story by its compelling dual timeline and brisk, well-paced narrative. The kidnapping and murder mystery element added an extra layer of intrigue that had me completely hooked.

Colette, the protagonist, stood out as a particularly memorable character. A skilled jewel thief with a Robin Hood-like mission, she made me reflect on the moral complexities of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons—a theme I found both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

And the ending? Absolutely perfect. It wrapped up the story in a way that felt both satisfying and earned.

Overall, I highly recommend this one. Kristin Harmel continues to be a must-read author for me, and I can’t wait to dive into whatever she writes next.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau

What a beautiful, emotional and heart-wrenching book. I’ve read so many books about WW2 and this one offered a twist on the resistant movements that I had never considered before. Beyond that, this is a story of friendship, family and fated love. Reading this book brought me through so many emotions and although I suspected the twists at the end, seeing the words spell out before me and confirming my thoughts moved me to tears. If you’ve ever deeply loved a friend, or a sister, or your life’s true soul mate, then you will deeply feel the emotion of this book.

I’ve read quite a few historical fiction books about World War II, but this is probably my new favorite! The characters had such depth and the emotions are conveyed so well, I felt like I could really imagine myself there and going through the same situations they were. Bounces back and forth between 1940’s Paris and 2018 USA, but it was never hard to keep track of where the story was at and what was going on. I can’t wait to read more books by Kristin Harmel!

I absolutely loved the premises of the Robin Hood theory.
I cannot even imagine what it would’ve felt like at 10 years old to start stealing jewelry from the rich to give to the poor.
Kristen never fails with her historical and all the facts that she entwined in her story. I’ve read a lot of World War II stories and I truly enjoyed this one because it was quite different.
For me, this one just had so much it had lost and found love, suspense, mystery, and my adrenaline was definitely going every time Colette would steal a piece of jewelry.

If you’re like me and you love Kristen Harmel and you need to run and get yourself a copy of this book.

Thank you you too NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Colette's family legacy dates back to Robin Hood. Her family has always been jewel theives and then uses the profit not for themselves, but to do good in the world. The story follows young Colette as she works with the resistence during WWII and also older Colette as she finds a long lost bracelet from her past in a museum. This bracelet was sewn into her sister's death before her sister was found dead. Colette hopes that if she can find the bracelet's owner she can discover the truth about what happened to her sister. This book was a different spin on typical WWII historical fiction books and was one that I greatly enjoyed.

This novel leaves a lasting impression, stirring both thought and emotion in equal measure. Its ability to weave compelling characters, rich storytelling, and resonant themes makes it not just a good read—but an essential one. Readers will walk away deeply moved, challenged, and inspired, making this a book worth recommending again and again.

Recommended for: Fans of The Nightingale, The Book of Lost Names, and readers who appreciate historical fiction with emotional and ethical nuance.

Thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟

Kristin Harmel has done it again! The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is a breathtaking, emotionally layered masterpiece that reminds me why she’s one of my all-time favorite historical fiction authors. With her signature blend of rich historical detail and deeply human storytelling, Harmel delivers a novel that is both suspenseful and profoundly moving.

Set against the haunting backdrop of WWII Paris and modern-day Boston, the story follows Colette—a jewel thief with a moral code—as she unravels the mystery of a priceless bracelet and the tragic disappearance of her sister. The dual timelines are seamlessly woven, and the emotional stakes are high from the very first page. Colette is a complex, unforgettable heroine, and her journey through grief, guilt, and ultimately redemption is nothing short of powerful.

Harmel’s writing is elegant and evocative, and she brings history to life with such care and authenticity. The themes of justice, memory, and the enduring bonds of family are beautifully explored. I was completely captivated and found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished.

If you love historical fiction that’s both gripping and heartfelt, this is a must-read. Kristin Harmel continues to raise the bar with every book she writes.

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #gallerybooks #thestolenlifeofcolettemarceau #kristinharmel

Phenomenal. Kristin Harmel has such a gift when it comes to writing about World War 2 and the Holocaust. This story was woven together and told flawlessly. A definite must read. Thank you for the ARC!

I have loved Kristin Harmel's historical fiction novels ever since I read The Sweetness of Forgetting back in 2012. She writes thoughtfully and sensitively and you can tell she's done a lot of research.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau looks at WWII and the Holocaust through a new lens: that of a jewel thief who is stealing from Nazis to help Jews. However, the war impacts her in many ways as well. When a bracelet connected to her younger sister, who was found dead in the Seine, appears 76 years later, it is time for her to get some long-awaited answers.

This story was well told and kept me captivated the entire time. We need someone like Colette in the world right now, especially as so much money and resources are being taken from people with low incomes and given to people who don't need or deserve it. The story has relevance to current events, as it's impossible to not see the similarities. (And if you can pick up on what else I did there, then kudos to you.)

I was able to guess at some of the outcomes, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment and I still found myself getting emotionally invested and even teary-eyed.

This incredible novel is now available and I highly recommend picking it up right away!

(Trigger warnings below.)

Movie casting recommendations:
Colette (present): Ruta Lee
Aviva: Emmy Rossum
Lucas: Theo James
Marty: F. Murray Abraham
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TW: Death of parent (several situations), death of spouse, parental abandonment, violence (beating someone to death)

I am such a fan of Kristin Harmel ! Her historical fiction novels are incredibly well thought out, and I love the unique spin she adds to her stories. In this case, the reader follows Colette Marceau, a descendant of Robin Hood, who carries on the family tradition by stealing jewelry from undeserving Nazis in order to fund the French resistance in the 1940s. In this dual-timeline narrative, Colette then continues her life-long pursuit in current-day Boston in order to fund the Boston Center for Holocaust Education. The story unfolds from there, with lifelong secrets unfurling as the story progresses.

It was an unexpected story with twists along the way, and I was invested from the get-go! Ms. Harmel did a marvelous job with the dual timelines, which certainly takes quite a bit of talent. Most importantly, she conveys the plight of the Jewish people, both during and after these human atrocities, in a very empathetic manner.

Many thanks to partners, @gallerybooks and @netgalley for this #gifted review e-copy.

This was an incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking story. I love the stories about the resistance groups during WWII that are always in Kristen Harmel’s books and this one was no different, with the very interesting POV of a jewel thief funding the groups efforts. Collette was remarkable and I was quickly invested in her life, past and present day. I felt the anxiety and tension around the thefts, all the heartbreak and loss she experienced and the triumphs she had both during the war and as her story came full circle near the end of the book. The sprinkle of thriller vibes throughout the book kept me turning pages, needing to know what happened. I think I will continue to think about this story for some time to come and highly recommend it to anyone. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book!

Two of a kind bracelet.
Colette has had hers for the last 76 years. And up until 2018, has not seen the matching pair. What happened to it? What did it go? AT what lengths will she go to find out its secrets

Set in the 1940’s, Paris and 2018 in Boston. Colette Marceau has an unusual family heritage. They are jewel thieves, descended from Robin Hood. They steal only from the ‘cruel and unkind‘, to benefit the French resistance in World War II.
 
At the heart of the story is Colette’s lifelong desire to know what happened to her 4-year-old sister, Liliane, who disappeared on the night of their mother’s arrest in 1942. And also the whereabouts of a unique, sentimental and valuable, bracelet that had been sewn into her sister’s nightgown.

I enjoyed the theme of love of family and friendship and the mystery aspect of the story, although a few parts felt implausible to me. This book also causes a reader to question moral ambiguity and its many complexities. 

I have to say that I personally was bothered by the Robin Hood aspect of the story, even if you could somewhat understand the motives. The age of the MC in the latter timeline was quite interesting, as she was nearly 90 years old. A lot of the time, her actions did not match her age, in my opinion. I did enjoy the ending even though it was fairly easy to predict. 

[Thanks to the publisher, GalleryBooks and NetGalley for the advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC of this book.

Excellent book. I liked the back and forth between time periods in the chapters.
Colette was an interesting lady. She lived with a life of pain but still helped the
survivors of the war. Ok, she might not have been doing it legally but she still
helped.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I thought it was presented very well
in this book. I'm not going to give anything away about the ending.
Enjoy the book!

I love Kristin Harmel’s books. I learn so much from them and get so wrapped up in the story and the setting and characters.

This one however was a miss for me. Colette was a fascinating character and incorporating the legend of Robin Hood was a unique twist to this story.

Sadly, so much of the story seemed to be drawn out. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and found myself reading other books besides this one.

This will not stop me from reading her other books and I know I am in the minority on this one.

Thank you for the copy of this book. All views are my own.

I flew through this. I loved every second until the end. It’s fiction. It’s allowed to have a happy ending. But man. I figured Daniel would be Tristan early, but couldn’t imagine everything wrapping up on that nice of a bow.

5 stars for first 5/6ths
1 for the last of it. I might be a monster.

:)

Fans of Kristin Harmel, as well as new readers to this author, will enjoy her latest book - The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau.
I’m a fan of historical fiction and multiple timelines, both characteristics of this book, so I was eager to read this novel as my introduction to the author’s work.
Fiction set in World War II has been very popular in recent years and many readers seek out books in this genre. While I have read my share of books in this category, it’s not something I look for, nor do I avoid what sometimes seems like an over-saturation of such titles. I think those readers looking for a book set in this time period will be glad they chose to read The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, right along with others, like me, looking for a well-told mystery that connects the present to events of the past.
The characterizations and descriptions were well-written and the plot, spanning the two timelines, wove together seamlessly to create a story that will draw you in and keep you turning the pages right to its satisfying end. I look forward to adding more of this author’s books to my TBR list.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Ms. Harmel has a story-writing talent of giving the reader characters that are easy to like and blending historical fiction into an intriguing book. Colette Marceau has two missions in her life and one that goes back generations, which is to steal jewelry from those who profit off of doing harm to others and then using the money from the sale to benefit just causes that help others. The other is to find out what happened to her young sister Liliane the night she was stolen from their home and later found dead .... and who took the jewels sewn into the hem of her nightgown? The use of a dual timeline tells the stories of how life has a way of coming around to both haunt and reward you. I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story was written that gives the characters interesting lives that intertwine with the other characters to help tell the story of Colette into an ending that does not disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheStolenLifeofColeltteMarceau

Been recommending this book to people all summer. Engaging and entertaining for certain! What a gem!

This book was a bit too wordy for me. I did learn things about that time in history. However, history not being a favorite of mine, caused me to be bored reading this book. I do love that the bracelet found it's way back to the family of the owner.