Many will love this book as it is a good story with lovable, sometimes flawed characters, a bit of mystery and of course some romance. For me it was between a 3 and 4 star. It was a bit too predictable and at times too repetitive to be wonderful and yet I enjoyed reading it. This author is a great story teller.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Title: The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau
Author: Kristin Harmel
Publisher: Galley Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pub Date: June17, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 384

Story is story in dual time-lines
1940 - Nazi-occupied France ~
2018 - Present time ~
Both timelines involve Colette’ Marceau.

Colette Marceau has been stealing jewelry as long as she can remember, believed to be a descended of Robin Hood and following his code to take from the cruel/unkind and gives to those in need
However one terrible night in 1942 her mother Annabel was taken and little sister Liliane who was only four years-old disappeared. There was a diamond bracelet sewn into the hem of her nightgown and when little Liliane‘s body was found the bracelet was gone. There had been twin bracelets created in 1927 but the jeweler insisted they be worn as one.
Now nearly seventy years later Colette is almost ninety and discovers the bracelet in a museum in Boston. Colette believes the bracelet was taken by someone who knows the truth as to who were behind the deaths of her mother and sister.

The story becomes very involved but hang in there as you will be glad you did!

I am not a big fan of WWII stories but I am a big fan of [author: Kristin Harmel| I have read several of her stories and all have all been great!

One of the many things I love about Ms. Harmel’s stories is the amount of research she does. She gives us a lot of detailed information; she reveals her inspiration, her research- (as she calls them) her historical threads.

Her ‘’Author’s Note” as well as her Acknowledgments are always worth a read.
In this case she tells us that writing this book was the most difficulty as well as emotional she ever wrote. After pitching it to her publisher, she
was diagnosed with breast cancer. Treated through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy she discovered she lost her desire to write
she just could not summon the words. Slowly she found her way back and Colette seemed to help. She talks about her research of Robin
Hood – many believe she was only a legend. With extensive it is believe he truly lived in the fourteenth century and there might still be
descendants.
Did I mention this is definitely worth a read – a story in itself?
Ms. Harmel is thankful for her readers and wishes us a life that sparkles just as brightly as all the diamonds in Paris.

Want to thank NetGalley, Gallery Books and of course Kristin Harmel for granted me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 17, 2025

This book is a very captivating historical fiction which drew me into the story fairly quickly. It is an interesting premise, based on a family who steals jewels and donates them to worthy causes. This particular novel is set in Paris during WW2 and although the main character is not Jewish, they are friends with a Jewish family who becomes central to the plot. There were some very surprising twists and turns in this book, maybe a bit hard to believe by the end, but then it also was very satisfying to see all the pieces come together. Ms. Harmel is very good at tying up all the loose ends.
The author researched the background well and gives a clear update on that in the postscript.
I found this book very interesting and compelling.
I also appreciated that there were no explicit details or scenes that would be offensive.
I really like the title, having finished the book. It fits well.
Recommended to readers of historical fiction for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my ARC.

What a captivating story—Kristin Harmel drew me in from the very first page! She beautifully captures Colette’s journey in the historical fiction novel The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau.

** Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Kristin Harmel for an eARC copy of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau.

I am a huge fan of Kristin's and have many of her books. The research for this book still completely amazes me. I love sister stories and this one will go down as being one of my favorites. I hope she knows how much we as her fans appreciate the little details that make her historical fictions novels just the best!

This was a beautiful story of love, loss and family. I'm a big historical fiction fan yet feel like I've read all of the WWII angles. However, this one was very, and wonderfully, different. Kristin Harmel draws you in and connects the reader to the complex characters quickly. Moving between historic time lines (early war to present day) weaving together a family tie to Robin Hood, stolen jewels, love and family. I enjoyed this engaging story and will definitely be recommending it to my reading friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC. Colette Marceau comes from a long line of Robin Hood jewelry thieves who steal from the criminals and fund the greater good. She lost her family during WW2 and when a bracelet shows up at a museum, she has to track down the owner. This bracelet, stolen by the Nazi's from a Jewish friend of the family was a custom order. When split into 2, made a striking piece but when put together as one, it was even more stunning. Her mother died trying to save this piece. Present day: Colette has one bracelet but her sister had the other before she was murdered. Now, after 77 years, she may finally get some answers. Yet another amazing story from Kristin Harmel! #TheStolenLifeofColetteMarceau #GalleryBooks #June2025

As I fully expected, this book was excellent. Told in dual timelines, that are easy to follow, the story of Colette comes to life. The story takes lots of twists and comes together beautifully. Thank you for the ARC. I can’t wait to hear more from Kristin on podcasts and posts about the creation of this lovely story.

This was another enjoyable book by Kristin Harmel. I loved Collette so much that it was hard to close the chapter on her. Historical fiction isn’t my favorite genre, but I loved this one!

1942: Paris
Colette Marceau is 14 years old. Her mother, along with their relatives going back many generations, is a jewel thief. She justifies the family tradition by only stealing from bad people in order to help those who need it. Her mother sews the stolen goods into Colette and her younger sister Liliane’s clothes to hide them until they can be sold. The money she makes helps fund the French Resistance. One night, her mother is arrested by the Germans and Liliane, only four years old, disappears.

2018: Boston
Colette is now 89 years old and is haunted by the events of that night so many years ago; aching to know what happened to Liliane. She has followed in her mother’s footsteps, stealing jewelry from Neo-Nazis to fund worthy organizations. Suddenly, a piece of jewelry shows up in a Boston museum exhibit that may hold the answers Colette’s been searching for.

Wow. THIS is how you write historical fiction. I was captivated by Kristen Harmel’s writing and storytelling. Historical fiction is the first genre I ever fell in love with as a little girl and The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is the perfect example of this genre written to perfection. I could not put it down; the story was engaging and the mystery had me on the edge of my seat. It was so well-paced, not too fast with too many reveals at once, but not a slow burn either. This was my first Kristen Harmel book, but it certainly will not be my last.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is not a genre that I normally do not read, but I have to say it was an excellent novel. I was enthralled from the very beginning. I enjoyed how the author had alternating chapters between the past, around World War II and present-day, which was 2018. I got to see how the choices made by Colette affected her. She felt that she was doing good, but then tragedy struck. Colette did not let that bring her down and she continued her work, but it did have an effect on her personal life. When the diamond bracelet reemerged,Colette was determined to find the truth. She involved multiple people and each would have their own part to play.Diamonds are forever and things always have a way of coming full circle. Sometimes it takes a short time and sometimes it takes a long while, but the truth has a way of revealing itself. I received this novel from NetGalley and the publisher as an arc. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kristin Harmel is always good and this book continues that. It is a very different approach to a story about WWII and the French resistance, which made it interesting. Simply, it is the story of a family of jewel thieves who steal from the bad rich and give to the good poor.

I had to stretch my believability in a few places. Was Robin Hood a real person? (Possibly). Did he have only one line of descendants who carried on into the 21st century? (Unlikely). Would Collette’s first love interest, thought to have been killed, from WWII era reappear when she is in her 80’s? (A real stretch). Likewise the reappearance of her sister thought to have been killed as a child.

In spite of those issues, the book was a good read and I enjoyed it. It was a different approach and that brought me in. I would recommend it. Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy of the book.

Oh what a beautiful novel! Colette Marceau comes from a long line of jewel thieves! This story is told in two timelines . Current and 1942. I find that the author does a beautiful job as always making you feel the emotions during such a strenuous time in history . I found myself moved to tears quite a few times. Anabel was a hero to me! The ode to Robin Hood was a beautiful take on such a brutal experience that all those Jews had to endure .

This book is one of those rare books that you don't want to end, but you want desperately to know what happens next.

This story is equal parts bitter and sweet, the bitter being tragic and unthinkable, and the sweet being redeeming and touching.

Colette Marceau is her mother's protégé in the jewel theft affairs of WWII France. The jewels are used to finance the escape of innocents from France and the building of holocaust centers in America, and they are stolen from Nazis and their sympathizers and enablers.

The author asks us to decide what right and wrong really mean in this instance. My take is that perhaps we as the human race should probably redefine right and wrong, because what is it when we do "wrong" for the right reasons?

I loved this book and I think anyone who reads it will, too.

Gratitude to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

Starting with Book of Lost Names, I’ve read many Kristin Harmel books. This one is a bit different than the others I’ve read. It’s not set in WW2 and is not quite as emotionally wringing. However, it’s an excellent book and very well researched and written. It is my new favorite of hers and a must read for all her fans!.

Another blockbuster byKristen Harmel. The author combines historical fiction with a mystery set during the time of 1942 Paris. She switches between 2018 and World War II to complete her intricate and fascinating story. Many twists and turns. The main character is very intriguing. Some of the things the author gives away with a hint, but others you will be very surprised at when you come to the end. I would recommend this book highly.

This was another great read from Kristin Harmel. Descended from Robin Hood, Colette was taught by her mother to steal watches and jewelry from Nazis and French collaborators, during WWII, with the proceeds going towards Resistance activities. Colette has continued her stealing, set now in 2018 Boston, funding numerous Holocaust remembrance groups and museums. When an important, one of a kind bracelet shows up at a jewelry museum exhibition, Colette brings together her friends and family to find out more about the bracelet in hopes of solving a haunting, tragic event in 1940's Paris.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. An elderly jewel thief is confronted with the past and we are taken back with her. A detailed, fast paced story that gives you hope, heartbreak and joy. It touches on Robin Hood, WWII, the resistance, takes place in Paris and America in different time periods. Multiple POVs but not to a detriment. Interesting characters, some frustrating and some lovable. I enjoyed that with the main character, you aren’t sure if you agree with her/how you feel about her. Or at least I didn’t. I saw some plot points coming, but I still enjoyed it. If you like Kristin Harmel, then you’ll like this book.

This book was heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. I really enjoy the different ways that this author looks at World War II. So many of her books are unique in a genre of books that can often feel monotonous. I was interested in this book because I loved The Book of Lost Names. This new book did not disappoint and I really enjoyed reading it.

Kristin Harmel's The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is a fast-paced, engaging story about an elderly (but spry!) French jewel thief who seeks answers to family mysteries as the Germans occupied Paris. I appreciate the large number of historical fiction centering strong female characters and there's no shortage of books about women in World War II. This is no different as we learn about young Colette during the war as well as the woman she is in the present day through the dual timeline. I did learn some tidbits about this time period from the story and even more about the roots of the Robin Hood story in the author's note. Other books delve more deeply into the time period and the setting, but The Stolen Life was a fun read ultimately for entertainment. The pieces all come together in the end and this will be a fun summertime book especially for fans of historical fiction. 4.5/5


Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the e-arc.