What a FABULOUS book from Kristin Harmel! Colette is a descendant of Robin Hood. Her mother has taught her that the family responsibility is to "rob from the rich, and give to the poor." The story unfolds in dual timelines - Paris of World War II and Boston in 2018. Colette has continued her family's tradition of stealing from nefarious members of society to help various charities, but when a bracelet that was last seen with her 4-year old little sister in WWII Paris suddenly appears in Boston in 2018, her past soon becomes her present!

I have loved Kristin Harmel's previous historic fiction, such as "The Book of Lost Names" and "The Winemaker's Wife." This title follows in Ms. Harmel's great story telling tradition and will wrap you up in the story and the mystery of what happened to Colette's sister, Liliane.

This title will be released in June, 2025 - pre-order it now from your favorite independent bookseller! Special thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of this great book!

Fans of Harmel's previous novels, won't be disappointed by this dual timeline novel focusing on a tragic incident that occurred during WWII. The premise of a family descended from Robin Hood that steals jewelry from horrible people and sells it to fund reparations is very unique and interesting. Colette is a morally gray character that it is hard not to like. Unfortunately, I found the story to be too melodramatic for my taste.

Excellent! Outstanding!

Honestly I’ve been shying away from WWII books, so glad that I requested this advance review copy (and that it was approved by the publisher)! The review was granted 5pm Friday and I finished Sunday evening. Such a great read!

Colette is a jewelry thief. (I love how Kristin Harmel describes the heists!). As a 15yr old she is instructed to watch her 4yr old sister; but for seconds she turns back to help her mother and her sister is kidnapped. This loss torments her for decades. The jewels … that were with her sister are the only clues to her sister disappearance … reappear in an exhibit 76 years later.

Love this book! Fabulous job … Kristin Harmel does it again. My favorite of her books so far!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for approving my request to read the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review! Approx 384 pages.

The Stolen Life of Collette Marceau is a piece of historical fiction that swept me away with its rich detail and emotional depth. Set against the backdrop of glittering jewels, this story has a Robin Hood twist that adds intrigue and heart.

Collette’s journey is one you’ll want to savor—her convictions run deep, and her ability to cling to hope and discover joy, even in the twilight of her life, is nothing short of inspiring. Every detail felt intentional and masterfully placed, creating a world I didn’t want to leave.

This book had me misty-eyed more than once, and the ending was pitch-perfect—satisfying, moving, and exactly what I didn’t know I needed. Releasing this summer, The Stolen Life of Collette Marceau is one to add to your TBR immediately. Don’t miss it!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I refused to go to bed until I finished the novel and it did not disappoint! The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is told in a dual timeline (WWII in France & 2018 in Boston) and the pieces all go together by the end. The story is engaging and will have you hooked from the start. Readers will want to root for Colette Marceau as she tries to figure out what truly happened to her younger sister. The novel also touches upon the impact of WWII on different individuals and what happens to them post-war. The end had me sobbing. If you like historical fiction and especially ones that take place during WWII, you will want to read "The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau."

Thank you Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for a honest review. Novel comes out June 17, 2025!

Historical fiction from a well-known writer who is returning from a break to battle breast cancer. Thankfully, she's doing well and back with something new to the delight of her faithful readers. I've read several of Harmel's books, so I was looking forward to reading her newest offering.

Colette is now in her 90s. She's been a jewel thief all her life -- BUT a jewel thief who only steals from bad people and uses the proceeds to do good. You see, she's a direct descendant of Robin Hood. This might sound like the plot line for a frivolous romp, but it's actually a very serious story about secrets, lies, murder, and Nazis. Told in alternating chapters -- 1940s France and modern day Boston -- we discover the story of Colette's past and her search for the man who destroyed her family.

This is an example of well done historical fiction -- a fictional story with fictional characters who exist in a real, historically significant time. In this case, WWII Paris under the Nazi occupation. The story is sometimes sweet and romantic, sometimes frightening and violent. While I did not like this one as much as some of her others, it is very readable with a swiftly moving storyline and engaging characters. Unfortunately, I found it predicable and the ending a little too pat. Her readers will be happy to have Harmel back "in action" and this is certainly an enjoyable book, I guess I was just expecting more.

The first two acts were incredibly well done, Things wrapped a little too neatly in act three, And the book worked as long as you suspended belief about Collette & Daniel's age & abilities in the present day. That was a bit of a stretch.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel is a beautifully written book and one which I could not put down. The story follows the tragic life of a fictional character, Collette Marceau.
Collette’s story takes place during WWII and then 70 years later using a dual timeline. Her family had been jewel thieves for as long as she can remember, but in the fashion of Robin Hood. They never kept what they stole but aided those in need. During the war, Collette and her family donated the stolen goods to the French Resistance and in modern times to those charities that she strongly supported and believes in. Her family suffers greatly from these thefts. The story, despite its sadness, has moments of happiness and surprising twists.
I loved this book and strongly recommend it! If you enjoy Kristin Harmels books, you will not be disappointed in The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau! It is one of those stories that will stay with you for a long time. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for this ARC.
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

I was so excited when I was sent this ARC. I love everything that Kristin Harmel writes. The Book of Lost Names started my love for Historical Fiction!

I loved the characters and story behind this family. As the connections were made at the end… it did seem a little far fetched but overall, I enjoyed this book!

This was a heartfelt story. It had an interesting Robin Hood angle. I found I was more accepting of the stealing when it helped save Jews from the Nazis but had mixed feelings about it in the modern timeline. I also had mixed feelings about the ending, though it did leave me feeling more uplifted than I expected given the sad nature of some of the storylines.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the early read.

I love dual timeline historical fiction stories. They tell a story about the past. They tell a story of how that past still affects the present. The dual time line of All the Diamonds in Paris didn't disappoint.

I travelled between Paris durnig World War Two and Boston in 2018. A series of tragic events that occurred during World War Two will come back into the present because of a diamond bracelet about to go on display in a museum. It wasn't a simple bracelet but one of two that, when put together, made a butterfly bracelet.

All the Diamonds in Paris reminds the reader of the horrors of WW2. As a reader, I got a glimpse of the treatment of the Jewish people. I experienced the attitudes of others towards the Jewish people. I was reminded of the sense of entitlement that the Nazis had during that time.

An SS officer, thinking he deserved the bracelet, will cause of a series of events that brings the reader into the present while learning of the past. The determination of Collette wanting answers about the bracelet will expose the shocking truth that changes everything.

Harmel has done it again she is a master at this genre and always writes characters you root far and storylines that draw you in . She is a brilliant writer and this one is a winner
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Beautifully written, likeable characters and storylines that all weave together. I love a story like this!

This is such an unusual premise that held me spellbound. I enjoyed the dual timeline, both narrated by Colette. The characters were well-drawn and the topic of jewels new to me. It's a story of families, love and tenacity to solve a mystery. Highly recommended,

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel was an absolute 5 star read for me. I could not put it down. The characters were very well written and the alternating timelines were perfect. I was invested in how all of the stories resolved. The subject matter was, of course, heavy as it was WW2 but Kristin Harmel wrote the characters and events with such care that it did not become overwhelming. Thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Harmel, and Gallery Books for the advanced digital copy.

I’ve enjoyed all of the books I’ve read by Kristin Harmel, despite the fact that I tend to get weary of World War II historical fiction. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is my favorite of all of them so far. It is a duel timeline (which also tends to drive me crazy) but in this story Colette is a narrator and protagonist in both times, one in the past where her mother and sister are killed, and then in 2018, when she finally has an opportunity to get answers about what happened so many years ago. The catalyst for Colette’s opportunity is a diamond bracelet that disappeared along with her sister reappearing. A bracelet that her mother stole decades ago that ended up costing her life. Colette is a thief too, trained by her mother with a code of ethics on who it is okay to steal from and what should be done with the proceeds of fencing it. This secret that she’s kept from the person who means the most to her will set an interesting course both for their relationship and for uncovering the truth. Especially when Avila finds herself falling for the man who has possession of the missing bracelet. I won’t tell you that the earlier timeline is rainbows and sunshine, because it isn’t. But it has a stronger lean on the relationships between people and how the war changed those relationships than recounting all the brutality of the war. The later storyline dovetails nicely, providing Colette with the opportunity for closure. The ending, while it definitely seems unrealistic, was one that I really enjoyed in a genre that isn’t full of warm and fuzzies. The book doesn’t follow a real life historical figure, which was fine by me. Instead it offers something more fantastical that still fits within the realm of plausibility. I really enjoyed this one. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Set in dual timelines, this historical fiction novel captures the time of Nazi-occupied France and the present. It is the story about a family of jewel thieves, descendants of Robin Hood, who only steal from very bad people to give to very needy causes.

When Colette’s 4-year old sister is kidnapped, she has an expensive, one-of-a-kind bracelet sewn into the lining of her nightgown. When her little body is pulled from the river, the bracelet is missing. Colette spends decades searching for the missing bracelet and the man who took her baby sister.

I’m a huge fan of Kristin Harmel and would read absolutely anything she writes. This book definitely stands out as one of my favorites of hers. It is gripping, it is compelling and it is powerful. This is an easy 5 stars from me, and if you enjoy historical fiction, you need to read this.

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Harmel, and Gallery Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot express how beautiful this book is. There is so much emotion written these pages. It almost brought me to tears many times. The characters feel like real people. I know in a way they are but the ability to bring characters alive like this is incredible. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the premise of a jewel thief. But I’m glad to say that it was amazing. I could have missed out on such a memorable book. I know this story will stick with me. If you loved The Book of Lost Names then you will adore this book too. I highly recommend it!

I love Kristin Harmel’s books
What a great story of WWII
It’s an inspirational story of survival during the Holocaust, love of family and never given up

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel is a riveting historical fiction account of a jewel thief who loses her family in Paris during World War II. The research Ms. Harmel conducted to create this realistic accounting of such an historic and horrific time in our world gives credit to the author she is today.

I champion the Robin Hood theme and the way the story is told from present day to jumping back to the scenario in the time frame of Paris 1940s.

The characters are beautifully developed and complex. I highly recommend this book. I could not put it down and neither will you.

Thank you to Ms. Harmel, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to review this incredible book.