Absolutely riveting! One of the most unique premises I have encountered in historical fiction in a long, long time. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, by Kristin Harmel, is a fast-paced story about a jewel thief, the French Resistance, an unresolved murder and the Nazi invasion of 1942. Expertly crafted, Ms. Harmel takes her readers on an exciting journey through seventy years, ending with Colette Marceau getting answers to many questions that have haunted her through the years. Not only answers, but also a possible mending of a broken heart and solving the murder that has been the most integral part of her 70 year baggage. This is a book you won't want to miss. It has everything a historical fiction lover could dream of.

I had not read this author before. I was expecting a bit more of a mystery to the story. At times it seemed to be rather slow and repetitive during the 2018 year. and it was a bit more interesting but rather predictible during the wartime. I understood the reasoning behind the stealing during the wartime, but finding justifications to continue to do so into your 80s is a bit of a push. The drama of the stories during the wartime drew me in but I felt that the ending was too wrapped up and tied pretty with a bow. Everything worked out for everyone with such convenience.

The story follows Colette Marceau and her family, who have a long history of stealing jewelry to help the poor and support the French Resistance.

The narrative unfolds in a dual timeline, spanning from World War II to the present day. In the World War II timeline, Colette's mother is arrested, and her younger sister, just four years old at the time, goes missing. When her sister disappeared, she was wearing a nightgown with a diamond bracelet sewn into the hem. Although Colette's mother was killed and her sister's body was eventually found, the bracelet was never located. In the present day, nearly 90 years old, Colette discovers that half of her missing bracelet has been found in a museum in Boston, leading her to realize that there is more to her family’s story than she ever knew.

Oh, my heart! Kristin Hamel's books always make me cry. I devoured this novel in just a couple of days, and I absolutely loved it! I never expected to enjoy a story about a nearly 90-year-old jewelry thief on a quest for the truth. It was so easy to fall in love with all the characters. Hamel’s novels always offer a unique perspective on history and the world, which I really appreciate. The writing flows effortlessly as she weaves together clues from the dual timelines. I also enjoyed seeing Boston featured in the story! If you're looking for a historical fiction book, I highly recommend this one or any book by Kristin Hamel. You'll fall in love with the characters, and the storyline will take you through a whirlwind of emotions.


Thank you to NetGallery and to Gallery books for my copy.

Morally ambiguous characters captivate me like no others, and Colette Marceau stands as one of the most compelling I've encountered on the page. In "The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau," Kristin Harmel weaves a tale where thievery becomes a complex inheritance—Colette's family legacy of stealing from the powerful to help the vulnerable transforms into resistance when the Nazis occupy Paris.

The dual timeline structure brings us two versions of Colette—her younger self navigating occupied France, and her older self still carrying the weight of that era's choices. When her mother's desperate attempt to recover a Jewish friend's family heirloom ends in tragedy, young Colette is left alone with guilt that shapes decades of her life. This moment haunts every decision she makes, creating ripples that spread across time.

What surprised me most was how deeply I felt Colette's emotional journey. Her relationship with a young woman she takes in during her later years reveals the complexity of found family—especially poignant when she finally confesses her past. Their connection unfolds with beautiful authenticity, neither simple nor without conflict, but ultimately healing for both.

Harmel's prose carries a lyrical quality that makes even the darkest moments bearable. The occupied Paris sections breathe with sensory details—I could almost feel the tension in the air as Colette moved through streets where danger lurked behind every corner. The mystery that drives the narrative builds with perfect pacing, each revelation causing me to reassess everything I thought I understood.

The past timeline shattered my heart piece by piece, while the present carefully gathered those fragments, offering resolution that feels earned rather than contrived. This isn't just historical fiction—it's an exploration of the moral complexity and how we carry our histories.

Thank you, Gallery Books and NetGalley, for my e-ARC.

Kristen Harmel does it again! She has su ch a beautiful way of writing and telling stories that just sucks you in. She soon became a favorite author for me after I finished “The Book of Lost Names.” When I got this book, I knew it would be amazing… and I wasn’t wrong. I love Colette and her unique family history and the angle of being a jewel thief. I love how she also interweaves the last and the present together!

*****Publishing June 17, 2025****

Colette learned to steal jewelry from people from the age of 10. Her mother taught her as it was part of their family history/ tradition. Colette would steal in order to give donations to organizations, including the one she founded herself, the Boston Center for Holocaust Education. This story alternates from 1939, Colette’s experiences as a thief from childhood through WWII to 2018, when Colette is nearly ninety-years-old and still a jewelry thief. Will she eventually get caught as a thief, or will she quit while she is ahead?

At the same time, Colette is trying to figure out who is responsible for killing her sister at a young age and where her mother’s beloved jewels ended up. Will Colette be successful?

I love a dual-timeline historical fiction story! Kristin Harmel’s writing will capture your attention from the beginning with flawlessly going between time periods. It quickly becomes a page turner to find out Colette’s fate. I loved the mystery incorporated into this story, which made for an entertaining read! I highly recommend it if you enjoy Historical Fiction. Perfect for book clubs as it will lead to many interesting discussions!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a fabulous story of an aging jewel thief that always based her philosophy on Robin Hood- steal from the rich and give to the poor! Colette didn’t exactly give to the poor but she certainly gave her money to fund the causes of the French Resistance movement. Colette’s mother was a jewel thief who lost her life when a German soldier was out for revenge after Annabel stole back the valuable twin bracelets that she had possession of & sewed in her girl’s nightgowns for safe keeping. When the Germans came for Annabel and Colette went back to save her she left Liliane alone and saw the policeman with her over his shoulder kidnapping her. Colette lived the rest of her life thinking that her irresponsible self was the reason her little sister was found floating in the river with the bottom of her nightgown slashed open and her half of the bracelet missing.
Thank you to NetGalley for ARC of this fabulous story.

5 stars

Every time I consider reading a Kristin Harmel book, I think, "I have to really be in the mood for this." The second I start, though, I cannot stop. That was absolutely the case with _The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau_, which first stole all of my attention and THEN stole my heart. Ugh!

Almost eight decades ago, Colette was a young girl in Paris who was born into quite a family tradition: jewel theft! Her mother, the bestower of this gift, starts teaching Colette the family trade at an early age, along with the clear messaging that these acts are meant to do good in the world. Think Robin Hood. Colette takes this to heart and - after incredible tragedy in her young life, some of which she can never forgive herself for and it shapes her whole existence as a result - she lives her life in a way that reveals her desire to punish herself permanently. In obvious ways, Colette's life is stolen from her not only by tragedy but also by her guilt and an attempt at penance.

What unfolds in this novel is gut wrenching and heart warming and utterly wild, and I could not stop reading it. Like all of Harmel's works, I found myself immediately invested in these characters and their outcomes and pondering big existential questions throughout the process. I am glad I went into this read with almost no information about what was to come. I recommend this strategy for all prospective readers, too.

I'll be thinking about this one for a long, long time.

Another page turner from Kristin Harmel is sure to delight readers. Told in dual timelines (1940's, 2018), we follow Colette Marceau as a young woman whose mother trained her to be a jewel thief, helping to fund the Resistance against the Nazis, through her late 80's where she continued those endeavors in the U.S., funding non-profits with the proceeds.

While this book has a different feel than her other stories, and doesn't rely so much on historical fact for the main plot (the most relevant historical research seems to be the legend of Robin Hood), it is still a compelling love and survival story. The ending is just a bit too pat, and loyal followers of Harmel will recognize her signature calling cards throughout the story. An enjoyable and uplifting read.

“Diamonds have witnessed the past, and they will witness a future we can’t begin to imagine.”

At this point I’ve read five of her books and loved them all. Harmel just has a way of storytelling that is so compelling and touches on all your emotions. She has a knack for finding and creating unique WWII stories around regular people doing heroic things to help others.

In the Stolen Life of Colette Marceau Harmel explores how people stole from the Nazis in order to help the Resistance. In this particular story, Colette Marceau is a jewel thief, taught by her mother. In fact, it’s been a ‘family business’ of sorts as they descend from Robin Hood. They live by the code: steal from the bad, give to the poor.

“‘No one who has earned his money or his worldly possessions honestly should be parted from them, even if he’s far richer than anyone should be. But he who has evil in his heart, or has used his fortune to bring harm to others, no longer has a claim on his property. Those are the people Robin stole from then, and they’re the people we steal from now.’”



Side note: if this concept intrigues you, definitely check out Connie Mann’s book The Crown Conspiracy which is an awesome book but instead of a Robin Hood jewel thief, the main character steals previously stolen artwork and replaces them with forgeries, returning the originals to their rightful owners.


I enjoyed the concept of this book. I enjoyed the characters. I liked that we get another taste of WWII from a different angle but it was also nice not to get into the nitty gritty of the war. There were definitely segments that were hard to read— like Colette’s mother’s arrest and torture. At times we need to confront the past in all its realities, but sometimes I prefer a ‘lighter’ book that doesn’t throw you in too deep.

I think I’ve read so many books that the ‘twists’ this book ends up having weren’t really surprising to me, but I wasn’t mad about it.

I also liked the themes Harmel explores: How is right and wrong determined? Is our identity more than what we do or more than our ‘destiny’? Can a lifetime of good wash away a long-ago sin? How and to what extent do we let our history shape our future?

I also love the thread of ‘diamonds are forever’ and what that means historically— that they get passed down from generation to generation and what they’ve ‘seen’ or been through could fill tomes.

It is aptly named— The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau— and has a complex meaning— the actual theft of jewelry but also the ‘theft’ of life, physically and emotionally, the ‘theft’ of an identity, the ‘theft’ of what could have been.



As with a lot of historical fiction novels, we have a dual timeline.

The historic timeline takes place during WWII where a young Colette is experiencing the hardships of the war. When their Jewish friends are rounded up and their jewels stolen, Colette’s mother steals them back from the Nazi who took them. This puts their whole family in danger. Colette experiences a lot of loss, including the kidnapping and death of her younger sister.

The modern day timeline (2018) follows 89-year-old Colette who now lives in the states and continues to steal from Neo-Nazis to help fund the Boston Center for Holocaust Education and other charities. All these years she has still wondered what happened to her sister and who betrayed her mother, leading to her arrest.

What ultimately ties these two timelines together is a very special set of bracelets. Handcrafted with hundreds of diamonds, these interlocking bracelets were designed for Colette’s mother’s friend Helene Rosman by her husband in honor of her newly born twins. Separate they look like lilies; together it’s a beautiful butterfly.

“‘It’s perfect… Helene and I will give our children wings and they will soar.’”

These bracelets are what Colette’s mom steals back and sews into the hem of Colette and her sister’s gowns for safe-keeping and bargaining power if they ever get into a bind.

Colette kept her bracelet her whole life, searching for the other half and the answers regarding her sister. The bracelet shows up in a new museum exhibit in Boston and Colette is determined to find out who it belongs to and what they know about the past, not matter the cost.



Many historical fiction novels that tell WWII stories in dual timeline have an elderly person in the modern timeline but I loved that in this book even though Colette is 89 years old, she’s still very much an active character, not just a reminiscent one and I appreciated that about this book. Also, it’s a little funny to picture her still stealing from people— she’s correct that no one would suspect her!



One of the more interesting aspects of this book is the moral dilemma of what Colette’s family does. Is it ever okay to steal?

I think during war-time, when people are being wrongfully rounded up and killed, to steal from the perpetrators in order to finance papers to help people escape that fate, it’s hard to not see that as heroic.

But this line of thinking can be a slippery slope. Harmel intentionally wrote about this morally gray-ish area and mentions it in the author’s note. She comments how “it was fascinating to explore how someone like Colette rationalizes her thefts— and to ask myself whether that reasoning is valid.”

It’s easy to look back on WWII and be thankful for those who lied or stole in order to save lives, but I’m not entirely sure how much biblical support that position has. I also think that humans are really good at justifying things and bad at making fair, unbiased judgements. I’m glad for what people did during the war to save people, but I don’t know if my feelings about it are necessarily biblical.

Even if the US is not currently at war, I’ve already seen examples of people justifying violence or destruction or theft just because people had different beliefs than them. There are certain groups of people pushing to classify certain words or phrases as acts of violence. If we start labeling words as acts of violence then that becomes the catalyst to justify morally wrong actions.

I don’t trust humanity to make really good judgments on what is right and wrong and what is justified and what is not. Sure, we may all agree on WWII acts of rebellion but all of humanity can’t agree on everything all the time. At some point we’re going to be on different sides of what we believe is justified. Then how do we determine?

Our selfishness and sin nature are too strong to ever support this notion that it’s okay to steal from the bad and give to the good. The working definitions of ‘bad’ and ‘good’ are too fluid.

I do like that Harmel points out that Colette bettered the world in more ways than just stealing diamonds— “through her volunteer work— and through the way she chose to show up for Aviva in her darkest hour.”

We are often short-sighted, thinking the only way to solve a problem or bringing good to the world is using morally gray means to achieve a desired outcome, but if we use our critical thinking and creativity, we see that there are so many ways to make the world better than our own personally identified methods of ‘redistributing wealth.’

Sure, Colette ‘redistributed’ over 30 million dollars worth of goods, but it was no small thing for her to step into Aviva’s life and be a mother figure, to extend generosity and love with her time and her words. It’s often the small things that make more of an impact than some sort of flashy gesture or widespread action.

“Change happens one act of courage at a time, one act of kindness at at time, one act of faith at a time. And those are things that all of us are capable of.”



Another thing Harmel mentions in her author’s note that resonated with me was the idea of Colette’s identity being in her thieving.

“Colette has essentially spent her whole life clinging to the sense of identity that comes with being a thief… she’s a woman worthy of love, whose identity isn’t determined by her vocation…”

Even though Harmel does not look at this from a biblical perspective, I love how she has Colette’s character develop to the point of recognizing that her identity has been wrapped up in stealing. It’s their family’s legacy; it’s a way she feels close to her mom. But it’s also been a big burden for her to carry. A burden that she is afraid to relieve herself of because if she isn’t stealing like Robin Hood, then who is she, what good is she?

We do the same thing. We believe so much of who we are is tied up in our jobs or our kids, our hobbies, or even our sexuality. But if those things are taken away (and they can), we are left feeling empty and purposeless. Our identity has to be outside of those things.

The Bible has the answer to satisfy that longing. Our identity should be in Christ who is an unchanging constant in our life. If we are children of God that can’t be taken away from us. It is security instead of a burden.



Recommendation

As with every other Kristin Harmel book I’ve read, I would definitely recommend this one!

Lots of layers of themes and emotions yet easy to read and enjoy with likeable characters and a great ending!



[Content Advisory: 0 f- or s-words; no sexual content]

**Received an ARC via NetGalley**

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel is an exciting novel about a mother/daughter team who steal jewels from nazis and their sympathizers during WWII to fund the French resistance.
The daughter Colette, stole a beautiful 2 section bracelet from a nazi who stole it from her mother's Jewish friend. Because of this theft the mother is killed and her youngest daughter is kidnapped and never seen again. the body of a young child wearing the same nightgown is found in a river nearby. Colette and her father are released and become estranged.
In 2018 when Colette is 89 she learns the where about of the bracelet her sister had sown Into her nightgown the night she died. If Colette finds out who owns the bracelet she will know ho killed her sister. This is very exciting read. I highly recommend it

I am a major fan of Harmel’s books and she is an auto-buy for me. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced e-ARC. Already pre-ordered.

This historical fiction follows Colette Marceau who has been stealing jewelry since she was a child. It’s a family business, but they had their reasons. They were stealing to help the poor and fund the French resistance. In 1942 Colette’s mother was arrested and her sister who was four-years old disappeared. When she vanished her nightgown had a diamond bracelet sewn in the hem. Her mother was killed and her sisters body was found, BUT no bracelet.

Now Colette is 70 years old and that bracelet is found in a museum in Boston! Someone knows about her past and perhaps more about her sisters death.

This novel will have you reading late into the night, Kristin Harmel always gives a unique novel which immerses the reader back in time and tugs at your heart.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is a historical fiction novel with dual timelines of 1940s (WWII era) France and 2018 Boston, Massachusetts. Fans of WWII fiction, family drama, jewel thieves, older characters, and lower-angst storytelling will enjoy this book.

Quick Plot Summary: Colette Marceau, a descendant of Robin Hood, hails from a family of jewel thieves who steal from evil people, sell the spoils, and give the proceeds to the less fortunate. Growing up in France during WWII, Colette's family and friends became involved with the German police and suffered several tragedies that tore them apart. Seven decades later, Colette is still trying to piece together the parts of her life that were broken by war. With the help of a few new friends, she discovers that what was stolen may not be lost forever.

My Impressions: This is the the third book I've read by Kristin Harmel, and it is yet another example of how she consistently researches her storylines and is thus a solid historical fiction author. The morally gray "Robin Hood" style jewel thievery made me think about the implications of those unlawful but not-entirely-bad choices. I appreciated the fact that all the main characters were older (50+), as most of the books I read don't represent mature characters that often. I was impressed to find out the the author was battling breast cancer during the writing of this story, and managed to finish it victoriously. If you enjoyed Patti Callahan Henry's The Story She Left Behind, this book will provide a similar type of reading experience.

The romantic content in this book were very light compared to the ones found in The Book of Lost Names, with the focus being more on family here.

I personally found this story and its characters difficult to connect with, the pace slow moving, and the narrative too repetitive. I gave 5 stars to The Book of Lost Names, but found this story less compelling, with many parts having too much telling and not enough showing. The ending 20% picked up pace, but I found the events that occurred too convenient and not believable. It was just an okay read for me.

Content Considerations: Light scant language (maybe 3 words in the whole book, and no f-- words), no romantic interactions beyond a light kiss.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my own opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Ms. Harmel wraps multiple plots together in The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau. Collette come from a family of jewel thieves, with the proviso that the proceeds go to fund deserving groups. The novel is set in Paris as the Germans are taking over during World War II. The story is a delicious mix of righteous jewel thieves, the injustices of the war, and a young girl growing up in the middle, along with her sister. The book alternates between narrating life in France and fast forwarding to the present day. Colette tries to reconcile past disappearances of those that were so close to her along with correcting past injustices. The surprising ending is ... just that and yet it is not surprising for an author like Ms. Harmel. In the Acknowledgments, she discusses the incredible support from her publishing team while she was battling breast cancer. Kudos to all of you!

I love Kristin Harmel's writing and this novel was no exception. Set in both 2018 and early 1940's Paris, we follow Colette Marceau as both a young teen during WWII and then again as a nearly 90 year old. The title is a play on words, as Colette is a jewel thief like in a long line of Robin Hood-like thieves, but her life is stolen when she is essentially orphaned and left without her sister at a pivotal time in her life. We learn how a bracelet seems to unify these lives and rectify a tragic past. I'm taking away a star for what I deem to be a lack of authenticity with the abilities of the aged characters in the story; I found it hard to believe that Colette and her peers had the strength and dexterity to move about so well, thieving and flying to Paris, etc. And unless I missed it, the true story of Lilianne in the Seine was never resolved.

Colette is a thief, taught by her mother. They steal from bad people for good reason though: to fund the French resistance. The WWII chapters… harrowing, and moving, and tragic. Colette’s young sister disappears, and is found dead, with the bracelet hidden on her gone.

Ninety years later, the bracelet turns up in a museum, and the then 90-year-old Colette is drawn back to reconcile with the past in this splendid novel about courage, survival, and how to accept the past.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau was beautifully written in a dual timeline format. It is historical fiction and gripped me from the beginning with the unique premise of Colette's familial legacy of stealing jewels. This book was the most interesting puzzle that culminated into an ending that surprised me over and over.

4.25 🌟

Such a beautiful Robin Hood book.

I love Kristin Harmel's writing - her ability to write beautiful stories is like no other. I loved the premise of female jewelry theives that steal from the rich and give to the poor. The way the characters come together in this book is heartbreaking and redemptive.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Kristin Harmels writing flows easily even as she writes about the difficult and traumatic subject matter of WWII. The life of Collette Marceau is told in a duel timeline. The chapters are just long enough to give you the opportunity to explore the history behind the story as it relates to the modern day life of Collette. She and her family members are direct descendants of Robin Hood and the secret her mother has told her is that the family must continue Robin Hood’s legacy of stealing from the rich, or in the case evil, to provide for and protect the less fortunate. Collette is taught to steal jewelry by her mother. At an early age during WWII Collette begins to steal from the wealthiest people who are either Nazis or people that are supporting them. Someone has identified her mother as a jewel thief and their home is raided by the Germans. Collette’s mother is taken and beaten to death but does not tell them where the jewels are located. During the raid Collette was told to watch her sister but while trying to save her mother a policeman takes her four year old sister Liliane. Days later Collette is told that her sister’s body was seen floating in the river. Collette continues stealing jewelry throughout the rest of her life as she creates and funds a Holocaust survivors organization with the money from the jewels all the while trying desperately to solve the mystery of what happened to her sister. There is so much more going on in this story that it’s impossible to touch on it all. I’ll be recommending this one to family and friends. This ARC was provided by Gallery Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kristin Harmel does it again!

Although I don't believe this was up there with Winemaker's Wife or Book of Lost Names- it was still wonderful! Kristin Harmel should be named the queen of WW2 historical fiction

The premise of this was unusual and thought provoking for a WW2 book