Colette Marceau has been stealing jewels for nearly as long as she can remember, following the centuries-old code of honor instilled in her by her mother, Annabel: take only from the cruel and unkind, and give to those in need. Never was their family tradition more important than seven decades earlier, during the Second World War, when Annabel and Colette worked side by side in Paris to fund the French Resistance.

Y’all! What an amazing tale. I loved so much about this book. But, I think my favorite part is Colette. She truly is an amazing lady. She steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Plus, she is a bit sassy! This always endears me to characters 😂.

The mystery surrounding the bracelet really had me fascinated. Now, is this story a bit contrived and predictable? Yes and no…It is all so very well done…the dual timelines, the mystery, the hunt…TRUST ME! This story will keep you captivated!

Need a story about a unique jewel thief…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another amazing Kristin Harmel story. So engaging and as always a tear jerker for myself.

Kristin Harmel is the queen of historical fiction and her newest novel doesn’t disappoint! I loved the concept of this novel that follows a jewel thief that has desperately been trying to solve the mystery of her sister’s murder. This is told in dual timelines (2018 and the 1940’s WWII time). Collette was the daughter of a jewel thief and was being trained by her mom leading up to the German invasion of Paris in 1942. When her mom is ultimately caught and executed, Collette and her dad survive but her younger sister was discovered murdered, along with a precious bracelet that was torn from the hem of her nightgown.

Years later, we find Collette living in America in 2018 and she is still stealing jewels from others to help fund the holocaust museum she founded. She discovered that the matching bracelet that disappeared when her sister was murdered has reappeared in a local art museum and she believes this will answer the mystery of what happened to her sister.

This book is captivating from page one and I loved not only the historical part of the story, but I loved the timeline in 2018 with the other side characters. I highly recommend this book for all readers!

5 stars!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel!

No author can tell stories of World War II better than Kristin Harmel. She educates as well as entertains readers. This duel timeline, multi-generational book is narrated by Colette, an elderly jewel thief who has been searching for years for a bracelet. It is connected to the death of her family. She started stealing to fund the French resistance during the war and kept stealing to help the needy.It is a realistic portrayal of history and the resilience of family.

First, let me start by saying how much I love Kristin Harmel. In fact, The Book of Lost Names is one of my all time faves. However, The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau missed the mark for me. It tells the story of Colette Marceau who has been a jewel thief for decades, starting when Nazis occupied France during WWII. Taught by her mother, the pair steal from Nazi soldiers and sympathizers in order to fund the French Resistance. Unfortunately, one night it all goes wrong when her mother is arrested, and her sister dies; Colette manages to flee with a bracelet sewn in her nightgown. Her sister had the other matching bracelet. Over the years since, Colette has been a modern day Robin Hood, stealing from the evil rich and giving to organizations in need. The matching bracelet suddenly turns up at a museum exhibit in Boston, and thus begins Colette's desire to find out what really happened to her sister so long ago.

I felt the story was a tad unbelievable as an elderly lady being a master jewel thief. If you can suspend disbelief, it was an entertaining book and I would still recommend it. It's just not one of my favorites of Harmel's. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me the digital ARC.

Colette Marceau is nearly 90, and she’s spent most of her life stealing jewels—but never without purpose. Descended from a long line of women who believed themselves to be descendants of Robin Hood himself, Colette and her mother stole only from the cruel and corrupt, using their spoils to help those in need. In Nazi-occupied Paris in the 1940s, their targets German soldiers and sympathizers, and their mission shifted to helping the Resistance. But one devastating night changed everything—Colette’s four-year-old sister, Liliane, was kidnapped during a raid, a priceless diamond bracelet hidden in the hem of her nightgown. Her body was later found in the Seine River, the bracelet violently torn away from the seam. Over seventy years later, that same bracelet turns up at a museum in Boston—and with it, the chance for Colette to finally uncover what really happened that night.

I’ll just say it: I loved this book. The dual timelines (1940s Paris and present-day Boston) were perfectly paced, and the plot had me hooked from page one. I’ve read plenty of WWII historical fiction, but this one stood out with its jewel-thief twist and the “do wrong to do good” characters. I was fascinated by the inventive ways people resisted the Nazis, and I loved that Colette’s brand of resistance—and justice—continued well into her old age. This one also scratched the mystery itch, with a slow unraveling of secrets and decades-old betrayals.

If you like your historical fiction with a side of jewel heists and emotional payoff—add this to your list. 💎

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel is historical fiction at its best. Leading up to and during World War II in France, and then jumping forward to the 2018 Boston area. It held my interest from the first page to the last.

Colette has inherited the family legacy of being a jewel thief from her mother, Annabel. Her father is not happy with his wife’s pastimes or hers. Her mother stole jewels from Nazis and their sympathizers and used the money to help the resistance. Later in life, Colette continues to do good with the items she steals.

The narrative seamlessly transitions between the two time periods, never missing a beat. Several stories are depicted, and a multitude of characters are introduced, enriching the story. While there is a lot of loss and suffering, there are also unexpected connections and surprises along the way.

Ms. Harmel recounts a story of untold losses during a horrific time yet showcases the resilience of many of the characters. She also emphasized the importance of family and friends, as well as being there for one another. Some losses are felt bone deep, but through it all, Colette held firm to her beliefs and her upbringing by her mother.

The loss of Colette’s sister at a young age affected her greatly, as did promises she made and tried to keep. There was a hint of romance throughout, and it was nice to see at least one of them come to fruition.

This book was an emotional read that had tears streaming from my eyes at times. The prologue nicely sets the stage, and the epilogue gives closure to Colette and some of the other characters.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is historical fiction that had me turning the pages to see what would happen next. It was hard to put down because the characters came to life as they told their tale.

The review is posted on NovelsAlive.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is a tragic story that begins during WW2. Her mother is a modern day Robin Hood, stealing jewelry from the rich to give to the poor. But in this case, she uses the jewels to help safe passage for Jews. Through tragic events, we meet Collette again when she is 89. Propulsive.

Charged!

Told in time frames between 1942 Paris and 2018 Washington, the story of Colette Marceau, her life, her sorrows and her causes, unveils dramatically.
Now nearly ninety, a sprightly woman, she beholds the photo of a bracelet that’s part of an upcoming exhibition in Washington D.C. Studded with diamonds it’s one of a pair that linked together to form the whole, “a constellation of flawless diamonds.” It was lost during the war along with Colette’s four year old sister Liliane. Colette has the matching bracelet.
Colette comes from a long line of jewel thieves where the tradition is to rob from the unjust and give to the poor and needy. That’s just what Colette and her mother did. Took valuable stolen jewellery from the Nazis, collaborators, and traitors, to fund the underground.
Now Liliane’s bracelet has reappeared and our octogenarian will let nothing get in her way of truth.
What a muddy mess it all is but with help from old and new friends the story will out—spectacularly!
Once more Harmel treats us to a quest tale filled with drama, intrigue and sadness—until the sun breaks through the clouds.
As promised by the designer, “The diamonds would live on. They always do.”

A Gallery Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Kristin Harmel is a favorite writer of historical fiction, and this novel illustrates why. Set in wartime Paris and 2018 Boston, the novel tells the story of several families bound in some way to a pair of bracelets fashioned for the wife of a Jewish diamond merchant in Paris. The story, however, revolves around Colette Marceau, daughter of a modern-day Robin Hood who steals jewels from the “bad people” to fund humanitarian causes. The premise seems a little outlandish, but the characters sparkle with warmth and humanity. You will buy in and fly through the story and then have much to think about. The novel won’t be easily forgotten.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The prologue opens with the detailed explanation of the twin bracelets that become the cornerstone of this book’s storyline. It sets the story up with perfection.

An emotional dual-timeline story about loss, love, and regrets from Colette's perspective the story begins in Paris, France with Roger and Annabel Marceau, and their daughter Colette, age six, in the middle of World War II and leads the reader through the devastation of the Nazi’s and the effect of the havoc they caused.

Colette is almost ninety as she reflects on her childhood; learning her trade of stealing from the Nazi to give to the poor and the present day now stealing from neo-Nazi to support her various charity foundations and The Boston Center for Holocaust Education where she does volunteer work. She also finds something that brings her closer to discovering what really happened to her baby sister.

I love how the author takes you to the present day and with finesse takes you to the past as Colette’s memories overcome her. It gives the reader a very clear understanding of what formed her character and why she does what she does. It will also fill you with such sadness, pain, and loss for all the lives taken by the cruelty of the war.

Filled with so much mystery, unresolved deaths, and finally resolution, you can’t help but love this book as you cry your eyes out. It’s a very emotional read with a stellar storyline.

This book deserves 5 STARS for it's emotional impact while telling a deeply moving story.

THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU is a layered, emotional story set in WWII Paris and present day, blending mystery, sisterhood, and a Robin Hood-style legacy. Two sisters are torn apart during a Nazi raid, a priceless bracelet vanishes, and decades later, long-buried secrets resurface. Twisty, tender, and full of heart—perfect for fans of historical fiction with a touch of suspense.

Kristin Harmel weaves a tale of grief, resilience, and identity as Colette unravels the truth about her past and the family she lost. A moving exploration of how the past shapes us—and how we find peace by facing it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are entirely my own.

Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite authors in the WWII historical genre. She has written another hit with The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau. The book is written with dual timelines and has a very compelling main character. It was very well researched and is captivating from beginning to end. You will enjoy this if you like books with strong female characters. I highly recommend it!

Synopsis:
Colette Marceau has been stealing jewels for nearly as long as she can remember, following the centuries-old code of honor instilled in her by her mother, take only from the cruel and unkind, and give to those in need. Never was their family tradition more important than seven decades earlier, during the Second World War, when Annabel and Colette worked side by side in Paris to fund the French Resistance.

But one night in 1942, it all went wrong. Annabel was arrested by the Germans, and Colette’s four-year-old sister, Liliane, disappeared in the chaos of the raid, along with an exquisite diamond bracelet sewn into the hem of her nightgown for safekeeping. Soon after, Annabel was executed, and Liliane’s body was found floating in the Seine—but the bracelet was nowhere to be found.

Seventy years later, Colette—who has “redistributed” $30 million in jewels over the decades to fund many worthy organizations—has done her best to put her tragic past behind her, but her life begins to unravel when the long-missing bracelet suddenly turns up in a museum exhibit in Boston. If Colette can discover where it has been all this time—and who owns it now—she may finally learn the truth about what happened to her sister. But she isn’t the only one for whom the bracelet holds answers, and when someone from her childhood lays claim to the diamonds, she’s forced to confront the ghosts of her past as never before. Against all odds, there may still be a chance to bring a murderer to justice—but first, Colette will have to summon the courage to open her own battered heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced digital copy of the book. It will be published on June 17, 2025.

THRILLING DUAL-TIME STORY

A thrilling dual-time story of a woman who is described as a descendant of Robin Hood. Colette Marceau learned to steal jewels from her mother, Annabel. They did not just steal for the fun of it; they followed the code of honor, taking only from the cruel and unkind, and giving to those in need. 1942 brought the Germans, and an atrocity happened to Colette’s family, leaving Colette to care for herself at a young age.

Seventy years later, Colette has done her best to put her tragic past behind her. She has devised a way to anonymously redistribute over $30 million in jewels to fund numerous organizations. She has held a secret all her life about a bracelet that was hidden in the hem of her sister’s nightgown the night she disappeared. When the missing bracelet appears in a Boston museum exhibit, Colette knows she must uncover all the details about this bracelet in the hope that it will lead her to answers about what happened to her sister that night. She’s not the only one seeking information about this particular piece, and that scares her. Will she be able to bring the murderer to justice?

Gallery Books and NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau
By Kristin Harmel
Release Date 6.17.25

Thank you @gallerybooks for an e-ARC of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristen Harmel. I loved this one!

This is the story of multiple generations of female jewelry thieves, said to have been descendants of Robin Hood, that made it their life's mission to steal from those that were wealthy bad people and redistribute their riches to causes and people of good.

Told in a dual timeline of Colette as a young girl in Paris during WWII stealing jewels alongside her mother to fund the French Resistance, and present day 70 years later when past questions and regrets are still weighing on Colette.

A story of love, loss, hope, overcoming the odds, The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau challenges the definition of right and wrong. I love the main character and supporting characters, the storyline, the processes of their thievery/slight of hand, the ties with past and present, and the found family.

If I had to nitpick at one minor thing it would be that I didn't agree with how the parts in the memory center were handled.

📖 Book Review 📖 Desperate times call for desperate measures and sometimes the most unimaginable circumstances lead us to the brink of morality. Colette Marceau has spent her lifetime fighting Nazis, from her childhood in Paris and into her adulthood. She never expected to encounter them in 2018 America but the evil persists and so must she.

All Colette has ever known is the life of a jewel thief, following in the footsteps of her mother. In the midst of a World War, the stakes are high and every deciduous is a matter of life and death. Like all members of the Marceau family, Colette passes all money from her heists to organizations that better society. But a long life and attempts at societal reparations will not heal the scars that she carries and the deadline to solve the missing pieces of her past is nearing. Kristin Harmel pens another riveting historical drama that enthralls the reader on a journey that is emotionally heartfelt.

Prepare for suspense combined with historical fiction.

Colette Marceau was raised to carry on the tradition of her ancestors: stealing from the rich to serve the poor. In Paris in 1942, there are many, many in need of Colette's skillset. Colette and her mother steal from Nazi and Nazi collaborators to fund resistance activities. One night, her life comes crashing down as her mother is arrested and her sister is taken from their room with half of a bespoke bracelet sewn into her nightgown. Her sister's body was found in the Seine, but the bracelet was gone.

Many decades later, the unique and distinguishable bracelet appears at a jewelry exhibition. Is this the breakthrough that Colette needs to find out what happened to her sister? Is this her opportunity for revenge?

Kristin Harmel weaves a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. Colette has an excellent cast of characters as her support system while she searches for information on her sister. She meets a number of people who also survived the war. Each of their stories is unique and insightful. Each character lived by their own code of ethics and made difficult choices based on their situation. Harmel writes of Paris with such intensity that I could almost hear the sound of the Seine lapping on its banks and smell the baguettes baking at the boulangerie. It was an immersive experience. I could also feel my heart pounding with every heist that Colette undertakes.

I did struggle with Colette's code of ethics regarding stealing. I also struggled with the indoctrination of young children into a life of crime. But, there is nothing more satisfying than a morally grey character. Kristin Harmel weaves a story of mystery, suspense, jewel heists, World War II history, and the lengths that a woman will go to avenge her sister. I deeply enjoyed reading this page-turner!

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and Kristin Harmel for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau.
This is a beautifully written, heart wrenching, dual timeline story about two jewel thieves, a missing bracelet that disappeared in the 1940’s in Paris and an adventure for answers in a long ago murder. This has all the ingredients for an outstanding historical fiction novel and it does not disappoint.
The action is fast paced and the connection between the timelines is easy to follow, making me feel that I am part of the story. Lots of emotions with well developed characters kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. There are a few surprising twists and turns which tie up all the loose ends.
I have read many Kristin Harmel stories and enjoyed them all. This is one of her best yet and I look forward to more.

Kristin Harmel never disappoints when you read one of her historical fiction novels. The Stolen Life Of Colette Marceau is no exception.
This book is a dual timeline that takes place in Paris during WWII in the 1940's and 2018 in America. The story is about Colette Marceau, her sister, Liliane and her mother, Anabel. They have a family tradition of stealing from the rich and giving to the less fortunate.. Anabel teaches Colette how to steal jewels to help fund the French resistance. However, one night the Germans come and take away Anabel, Colette and her father. Liliane is lost along with a diamond bracelet sewn into her night gown. Thus begins a family saga, a kidnapping, a murder mystery, and a romance..

This book is fabulous. The setting is perfection. Ms. Harmel makes you feel like you are in Paris during WWII. There is strong character development and just the right amount of detail. You will experience all the emotions as you read through the pages. Add this to your summer TBR list ASAP!! Way to go Ms. Harmel!

Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Kristin Harmel for the ARC.

Colette Marceau comes from a long line of women Robin Hoods - they steal jewels from horrible people who do horrible things, sell them, and use the money to do good in the world. During WWII Colette & her mother Annabel would steal jewelry from Nazi sympathizers and then use that money to help fund the underground organization that produced forged documents so that people could flee the country. Then one night, it all went horribly wrong - Annabel was arrested, by the Germans and Colette’s four-year-old sister, Liliane, disappeared in the chaos of the raid, along with an exquisite diamond bracelet sewn into the hem of her nightgown for safekeeping. Not long after, Annabel was executed, and Liliane’s body was found floating in the Seine—but the bracelet was nowhere to be found. Collette has made it her life's mission to find out who kidnapped & killed her sister & stole the bracelet. Then one day, some seventy years later, the long-missing bracelet suddenly turns up in a museum exhibit in Boston. If Colette can discover where it has been all this time—and who owns it now—she may finally learn the truth about what happened to her sister, and hopefully bring a murderer to justice.

This book was wonderful. The story alternated between past (the WWII timeline) and present. I loved the idea of a line of female Robin Hoods who stole jewelry from terrible people and then used the money to do good. After Colette came to America, she continued her thievery, and she not only anonomously founded the Boston Center For Holocaust Education with the proceeds, but she also donated to a wide variety of other charities. The parts about the Holocaust were hard to read about, of course, but the ending left me with happy tears. I highly recommend this one for anyone who loves historical fiction.