The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau may be my favorite Kristin Harmel book. An interesting twist on a WW2 story, Colette has spent her life being a jewel thief, stealing from people who are horrid.
Now, I don't agree with the stealing, and wish there had been a little more character redemption. But it was still a fascinating story & the ending had me in tears. I guessed some parts, others surprised me. This will be a reread for sure.

Oh, this one broke my heart time and time again. From a number of events that happened during the war to missed opportunities and secrets held for too long during the present day storyline there were several times I had to pause for a minute. Colette's background is tragic and infuriating and it makes her focus understandable. I loved her devotion to her goddaughter, Aviva, and her friendship with Max. I also really liked Aviva and her desire to help this woman who has been a constant safe harbor in her life even if she's shocked with everything that gets revealed.

After a somewhat slow beginning I was really pulled into the story, and it was one I thought about even if I wasn't reading. I've read a number of World War II historical fiction but this book had a different angle as it touches on the French Resistance in a very direct way. As well, the main characters are Jewish but their friendship with a Jewish family is a focal point. The 1940s timeline did drag at times as I found myself more interested in the search for the truth and the question of how does one find the truth when the records are gone and the memories of those left are quickly fading.

Colette drove me crazy at times. For her background and training she is impetuous and impatient at times when it is most important for her to be measured and careful. That and the somewhat slow beginning kept this from being a full 5 star book though I did really enjoy it. This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm looking forward to reading more by her.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is a WWII and contemporary Robin Hood story. By Kristin Harmel it is a gripping read with a remarkable heroine, a lost bracelet and most importantly a murderer to catch many decades later. Colette Marceau has lived her life following family tradition but has lost two sisters because of one tragic night. This is her last chance to follow the clues and the lost, now found bracelet to find the truth. An unforgettable story of bravery and choices with consequences, the WWII French Resistance and a pursue of personal justice.
4.5 Stars

Kristin Harmel writes emotional WWII books that focus on the impact of the war outside of the concentration camps. I loved how the main character and her family would steal from bad people in order to help those that need it. A modern day Robin Hood. It is told in dual timeline from the present to the main characters past in Paris from a child to the time of the war. I was so engrossed in this book that I didn’t notice the hours fly by.

Another FABULOUS dual timeline WWII historical fiction novel featuring a family of Jewish female thieves who are dedicated to stealing from those who have stolen from Jewish families during the war. Great on audio, this book had family secrets, sisterhood bonds, historical intrigue and SO much more! Easily a new fav by a much-love author and highly recommended for fans of authors like Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @simon.audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was just outstanding! I loved it and couldn’t put it down. It’s a complex story full of so many surprises. I thought the information on how to steal jewelry was interesting. I really liked all the characters too. It was a tearjerker of a book!
Definitely recommend

The Stolen Life of Collette Marceau is great historircal fiction from Kristin Harmel.

"Collette has been a jewel thief almost her entire life, following a long family tradition. She and her mother both stole jewelry to fund the French Resistance in Paris in WW II. One night in 1942 goes horribly wrong. Her mother is arrested by the Germans and her little sister, Liliane, disappears in the chaos with an elaborate diamond bracelet sewn into the hem of her nightgown. Annabel was executed and Liliane's body was found floating in the Seine. The bracelet was nowhere to be found.
Seventy years later, Collette is still using jewelry to fund worthwhile organizations. Her life is upended when the bracelet appears in a museum exhibit. Now she can hopefully find out what happened to her sister on that terrible night."

This was my first book by Harmel but won't be the last (goes out to find back catalogue) Harmel captures the evil of the Nazis but also the spirit of the resistance in Paris willing to put themselves in dangerous places. Collette is an interesting character. No one notices a 90-year-old jewel thief. She still carries the burden of his sister's disappearance and death after all these years. There are a lot of things that happen at the end to answer all the questions. It almost feels like too much of a coincidence but Harmel makes it work. There are several emotional reveals including a couple that take your breath away.

Some great fiction from Harmel. Don;t miss this wonderful story.

A special thank you to Net Galley and Gallery books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kristin Harmel is the queen of historical fiction and continues to provide the most beautiful and tragic stories of our time. This very powerful story is told in dual timelines of the same character over her 90 year life.
" It is in the times of danger that we must summon our greatest courage."
Collette as a young child is taught by her mother to be a jewel thief during WWII. The women in her family carry on this tradition in the name of Robin Hood and their dedication to those in need. This powerful and tragic story builds to extreme and unbearable losses suffered by Collette during her life as she carries on the traditions of her family. It is not until the discovery of a unique and recognizable bracelet in a jewelry museum that Collette is forced to come to terms with her life's decisions, tragedies and the mysteries buried and unsolved. To share any more detail would spoil the twists and turns of this breathtaking novel.
Like no other author Harmel expertly weaves the details of plot and character in the most beautiful and satisfying manor.
These characters and their stories will remain in your heart long after the last page is turned. A must read!

I am always amazed when authors come up with something new. In this case a special twist reference to Robin Hood.
I love this book it seems to have everything,-an interesting plot, romance, mystery and tragedy. The characters were real to me as I got to know them.. Of course it was a bad time in history of World War 2, with the prosecution of the Jewish people and hoping everything would come out alright for them.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this arc and to the author for writing such a wonderful book.
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Reviewed for NetGalley:

Historical fiction set during World War II, juxtaposed to near present day, we find Colette Marceau learning the jewel thief trade, and the aftermath respectively.

Learning jewel thievery from her mother, the apparent family trade for centuries, Colette and her family's lives as they knew them, end in tragedy in the past. While present day, Colette tries to piece together what happened so many years ago with the help of her new found family.

I applauded the portrayal of elder Colette and friends, as many of the present day cast of characters were 85+ years and the importance of findings the truths of the past, no matter the age.

Beautifully written, with some moments of disbelief here and there. But then again, that's fiction.

Told in alternating timelines between the German occupation of France during WWII and modern day, the story of Colette Marceau's life pulled me in so much that I read this book in one day. Colette, a jewel thief taught her trade by her mother believing that she stole from undeserving, evil rich people to bring resources to good causes, is now an old woman still grieving the loss of her mother and sister many decades ago. When a rare and valuable bracelet, half of which Colette has in her possession and the other half of which was hidden in the hem of her 4-year-old sister's nightgown the night she was kidnapped, shows up in a museum Colette is determined to find the owner of the bracelet and learn the truth about what happened to her sister.

Kristin Harmel is a master of telling stories that span decades and bringing characters to life. I did not feel as much of a connection to the characters in this story as I have to some of her other books, but I did really enjoy trying to solve the mystery of what happened to the bracelets. There were a lot of moments of suspense and emotion in this story as well. Fans of historical fiction and WWII stories will definitely enjoy this one.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau was nothing short of perfection. As a lover of historical fiction, I was completely swept away by the seamless way this story blended past and present. The alternating timelines were so effortlessly woven together, each revealing more about the characters and their connections in a way that felt both natural and gripping.

From the very first page, I was hooked. The writing was flawless—every word felt intentional, and every scene pulled me deeper into the world of Colette and those tied to her story. The characters were so richly developed that I felt their emotions as if they were my own. It’s one of those rare books where you don’t just read the story; you live it alongside the characters.

This book is a masterclass in storytelling, and it’s one I’ll be thinking about for a long time. If you love historical fiction that is beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and utterly captivating, don’t miss this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Kristen Harmel for an advanced copy of this beautiful book. I plan on purchasing a physical copy to live on my bookshelf forever.

Another wonderful historical fiction from Kristin Harmel. The other two I’ve read were 5 star reads but this one fell a little short of that for me. It was still a great story and wonderfully written, but I didn’t like the ending. I can’t tell you why because I don’t include spoilers in my reviews, but I would have preferred less of a “wrap up”. I was also really hoping for a “this was based on X’s life” in the author’s note because I really wanted Colette to be a real person. And maybe she did exist and just stayed anonymous. That’s what I’m going to tell myself because sometimes we need true Robin Hoods in this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the complimentary copy of this book. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.

Paris, 1934. When Colette turns ten, her mother Annabel, teaches her how to steal. When Colette questions stealing, she is explained the story of Robin Hood. It’s about taking from those who are cruel and helping those who are kind. And the golden rule is they never keep anything for themselves, except the twin bracelets belonging to her mother’s friend Helene.

Annabel and Helene are part of underground network. Annabel tries to persuade her friend Helene to leave Paris due to possible mass deportation of Jews. When Helene with her family are deported and the twin bracelets appear on mistresses’ wrist of a German officer, Annabel decides to do the right thing. At least, it’s the right thing in her mind, but that’s when she makes a fatal mistake. She lets emotions get in the way and loses her full concentrations, leading to fatal events.

Meanwhile, the bracelets are split in half, just in case, if the worst comes to pass, each girl, Colette and her younger sister, would have something to bargain with to keep them safe during the war. But her younger sister later is found dead and the bracelet sewn into the hem of her nightgown for safekeeping is gone until it turns up in the museum almost seventy years later.

This dual time line, switches between WWII and the present time when Colette is almost ninety and is proud of her achievement, funneling well over $30 million in stolen jewels to deserving organizations. One of the bracelets resurfaces at the Diamond Museum. As the bracelet reappears, it brings the painful memory back. Colette gathers her strength to find out where the bracelet came from.

As engaging as the story is, there are parts that are questionable if it’s believable. How did she support herself? Some dialogue of a young girl didn’t sound believable. The confirmation of the found body was questionable.

At the end, the story makes a good point that there is no point of holding on to the past. It robs one of good experiences.

Overall, the story has a good flow, is engaging and fast-paced, the characters are well-developed and interesting. The story doesn’t go into atrocities of the war which I personally preferred.

Although this could be billed as another WWII historical fiction story, it's really not so much a war story as a story about the aftereffects of the war and its impact on a singular young girl - Collette Marceau. I thoroughly enjoyed this dual timeline story that carries readers from 1942 Paris to 2012 Boston, where Collette at nearly 90 years old, discovers the whereabouts of a long-lost family bracelet and is determined to hunt down its provenance. I loved this story's premise of a family legacy as jewel thieves who steal from the rich and nefarious - in this case Nazis and Nazi sympathizers - to help the those in need, much like their long-ago forefather Robin Hood. Collette was brave, clever, quirky and fiercely independent.

Kristin Harmel is an author on my “must read” list. I love historical fiction and she is excellent at researching and writing it. “The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau” is a new twist on WWII era and beyond with dual timelines. There is so much to love in this book. I did have trouble with the ending, there may have been too many issues to finish, but the ending was rushed and this beautiful story didn’t deserve that.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this wonderful e-ARC to read. This review is my honest opinion.

This was one of the meat WW2, historical fiction books I read in a long time. It was thrilling. A jewelry thief, Paris, the war, long lost love. I could not put this book down. Read it in a day. Colette had a long life full of regrets and loses. She lived her life doing what she as taught - stealing. A family story of being descended from Robin Hood- allowed her to steal from “bad” people and help the needy. This was a bit of a stretch for me - but I loved the story nonetheless the less. Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this 5 star book.

THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU by Kristin Harmel

I loved this story of Parisian jewel thieves who are descendants of Robin Hood! Stealing jewels from vile and despicable people, then redistributing the proceeds to aid the needy and fund humanitarian organizations is just the sort of moral ambiguity I can get behind.

If you love historical fiction as much as I do, this one has it all; a compelling protagonist with well-crafted minor and side characters, historical accuracy, and a dual timeline that flows and converges seamlessly. Were some plot points predictable? Sure, but I didn’t mind. IMO it didn’t take away from the emotional impact of Colette’s story.

Overall, another well written, meticulously researched, and heartfelt story that had me turning the pages well into the night. Highly recommend!


Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Pub Date: 06.17.25
**ARC courtesy of Netgalley & GalleryBooks

I adored this novel and simply devoured it. I liked the characters and their complicated lives and connections both past and present.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in exchange for a fair review. This is the first book I've read by Kristin Harmel and, for the most part, I enjoyed it. She is a good storyteller and this story was very different from most historical fiction that pertains to World War II. The plot centers on the title character, Colette Marceau, who is a jewel thief with a Robin Hood twist. She steals from not so nice rich folks (i.e., rich Nazis) to support various causes (i.e., the French Resistance). Does that make it right? Good question, but stealing jewels runs in her family. In the modern-day story, Marceau is an old woman who lives alone in the United States and has no family, but she does have one of two priceless bracelets, which, during the war, her mother had sewn into her nightgown. Her little sister had the other one. In the historical story, Marceau is a young girl caught up in Paris as Germans invade. With her mother arrested and her father abandoning her after her younger sister is believed dead, Marceau lives with tremendous guilt, until the second bracelet turns up at a local museum decades later. I am not a fan of the back-and-forth timeline. I always find the historical portion much more interesting than the modern one and this book was no different. Why can't authors start at the beginning and tell the story? My only other complaint about this book was the contrived ending. It was hard to believe. I saw it coming but kept hoping for something more realistic. Overall, I did like the book and would recommend it. I also look forward to reading more of Harmel's work.