Having read two of Ms. Harmel’s most popular works, I was fully prepared to immerse myself in a historical narrative revolving around WWII, and I was not disappointed. She is a masterful storyteller who presents a nuanced and perceptive view of the depth of tragedy that the war entailed for both the Jewish population of Europe and civilians. This story focuses on both groups, with the main protagonist being a French civilian who helps the resistance while doing her best to preserve what she can for the Jewish families she knows and loves.

Colette Marceau comes from a long line of jewel thieves, not those who steal for treasure and wealth, but rather individuals who maintain a façade of normalcy while stealing to support humanitarian causes. Colette carefully selects her victims, targeting those with malicious attitudes and engaging in nefarious activities, and donates all the proceeds to causes dear to her heart. However, Colette is an octogenarian without children or family, and she is left with only one battle to fight: finding the truth behind her mother’s capture and execution, as well as the disappearance and ultimate death of her younger sister. She feels responsible for both deaths and has lost hope of uncovering the truth until a bracelet surfaces as part of a museum display.

This bracelet had been missing for over seventy years, and Colette knew exactly where it was at that time, sewn into the nightgown of her younger sister. If she can discover who donated the bracelet for the museum's display, she may finally be able to solve the mystery of what happened to her sister all those years ago. However, this process will not be easy, and Colette will question everything she holds dear. Along the way, she will forge new relationships that become more important than she realizes.

This was a solid work by Ms. Harmel and another interesting take on WWII. I appreciated the focus on French civilians and the resistance. While I found some aspects of the jewel thieving to be a bit over the top, I did enjoy the reflections Colette provided on both the present and the past. This is a story worth reading and another success for historical fiction.

A wonderful book by Kristin Harmel! This book had everything from nazi germany, to family. I loved the ending and highly recommend this book. You will fall in love with the main character!

Wow....just wow! Every time I read another WW2 book by Kristin Harmel, I learn through her extensive research and imagine a different facet of this horrible war, believing that there were people trying to do some good during one of the most hopeless times.

This story finds Colette Marceau and her family navigating France during the German invasion of Paris. Colette and her mother Annabel, are jewel thieves with ties to Robin Hood, and they see it as their family duty to steal from the rich and give to the poor. In this case, they target Nazi allies and use the money they receive from selling their jewels to fund an underground network of the French Revolution that saves Jews from persecution. In this dual storyline, we learn how this all plays out in the past, while seeing it through her eyes in Colette's modern day life.

Amongst the overall historical war storytelling, there is a sub-story behind a most unique piece of jewelry: a butterfly bracelet. This bracelet represents a promise made by Annabel to her Jewish friend Helene Rosman, who was taken by the Nazis because her husband was a diamond jeweler. Annabel vows to keep the bracelet intact for Helene until she 'comes back'. When their apartment gets raided and part of the bracelet turns up on the arm of a Nazi leader's girlfriend, Annabel sacrifices herself to steal the bracelet back. A series of events occurs thereafter, placing the future of the Marceau family in jeopardy and setting Colette's life in motion.

Beautifully woven together, marrying historical times and choices, Colette's life plays out for the reader in a way that lets us decide if her most significant 'steal' was truly worth it in the end.

Special thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. It was a fabulous 5 star read!

@GalleryBooks, @kristinharmel

I didn’t think Kristin Harmel could write another book I would fall in love with and not want to put down, but once again, she did. An absolute gem of a book-rich in history, love, and family’. A huge thanks to NetGalley for the advanced read.

I’m not always drawn to WWII books since I’ve read so many, but I know I can always count on Kristin Harmel for a great heartfelt read—and The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau was no exception.

I loved Colette and the life she made for herself despite a harrowing childhood. I loved how she carried out the Robin Hood legacy, even at her advanced age.

A couple major plot points did turn out as I anticipated they would from almost the beginning, but that’s okay because it’s exactly what I wanted to happen, and the journey was more important than the result.

I’m very glad I read this one and will continue to pick up all of Harmel’s books! I’m excited for others to read this one so we can discuss this emotional story and wonderful heroine.

A absolutely loved Kristin Harmels's new book. My favorites historical fiction era is WWII. This story had a different spin to it than her others. A back story of Robin Hood liked to their family history as a reason to continue to steal jewels. I thought Collettes reasoning for stealing Nazi jewelry made sense but also did not want her to get caught either. The way Harmel made the connections happen between the characters was beautifuly done. This was a story where sad and happy tears were shed.

I was interested in this book because I enjoy Kristin Harmel and historical fiction, particularly WWII era, but I can't say the title or even the plot interested me much. However, I loved everything about this book! I adored the main character and those in her orbit, and found myself constantly both amused by and rooting for Colette. Colette is how I hope to be when I am in my late 80s, minus the thievery.

The book can be heavy, because how can a book half set in Nazi occupied Paris not be, but in the perfect way. You get enough feeling and details of this era, but aren't overwhelmed by it. I thought the transitions between 1942 and 2018 were well-done too.

But what I loved most about this book is how everything comes together in the end. I felt warm-hearted and the story felt complete without being forced.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. It tells the story of a French woman, Colette Marceau, who was a child during the German occupation of France. Her mother and grandmother were both jewel thieves, but they felt they were “Robin Hoods,” who stole from people they deemed “bad” and gave the proceeds to “good” causes. Colette was taught to steal at an early age. At the center of the story is a pair of bracelets that her mother had stole from a Nazi who had expropriated the fabulous paired bracelets from the Jewish family that had commissioned them.. The story moves back and forth from wartime Paris to 2018 New York City, where nonagenarian Colette lives and still practices her “craft,” using the proceeds to support a Holocaust Center.. A photo in a gallery brochure brings the issue of the bracelets and Colette’s murdered little sister to light.

I knew picking up this book that I would love it because I have loved all Kristin Harmel’s books. I was not disappointed. I fell in love with the main character, Colette Marceau. Collette grew up in France during WWII and is a descendant of Robin Hood. Her mother taught her to steal and to give back to those who needed it. She loses her mother and little sister in the war and feels responsible for her little sister’s death. This story connects the past with her story that continues into the 21st century. I definitely recommend picking this one up. I really enjoyed it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher, Gallery Books, for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 17, 2025.

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Kristin Harmel book, and when I saw The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, I was very intrigued by the synopsis. I loved the books I’d read in the past by the author, so I dove right in. I’m so glad that I did! I was completely enraptured by this novel and quickly read it in a little over a day. I just couldn’t put it down.

Is it ever right to commit a crime? This is a moral dilemma that has been explored in literature for hundreds of years. The WWII era is one in which many people did commit crimes against a corrupt regime. The laws were wrong, so not obeying Nazi laws wouldn’t even make me think twice. Colette Marceau’s crimes were a little different. Following in the steps of her ancestor Robin Hood, her family has a long history of stealing from the rich to give to the poor. In this case, it’s jewel theft. I can see the justification of stealing jewels from the Naziis who already stole them from the Jews. And Colette’s reasoning over her almost 90 years has been that she only steals from people involved in evil organizations like neo-Naziis. This WWII jewel theft sets off the events in this captivating novel.

Like I said, I just couldn’t put this down. It grabbed me right from the beginning, and the dual timelines just kept me turning the pages. I couldn’t wait to see how everything in the story would fit together and how the mystery of the bracelet fit in. I really loved everything about this novel…the characters, settings, mystery, plot. It all came together beautifully in the end. I highly recommend it!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I keep saying I don't like historical fiction, but I keeping giving high ratings to the historical fiction books I read. I think the issue is that I only enjoy historical fiction if it links to the current time. While this novel was based originally in France during World War II, it also had a modern day component that is based in the United States so it fits of what makes historical fiction enjoyable for me.

I really enjoyed this book although I wasn't sure if I would based on the title. The book itself gets four stars, but the title only gets 2.5/3 stars. Upon the conclusion of the book, the title makes sense, but it is not a title that made me interested or excited to read the book. I have liked Kristin Harmel's other books which is what led me to this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story, so this is definitely one to add to the "to read" pile (despite the title that I wasn't a big fan of). My only complaint about this book is that is gets all wrapped up a little too neatly at the end (no spoilers!).

Thank you Gallery Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Kristin Harmel has done it again. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau centers on the life of Colette, a jewelry thief whose family believes they are descendants of Robin Hood, and carries on a multi-generational family tradition of stealing from the evil (in this case, the Nazis) in order to help French victims of the Holocaust. Told in dual timelines, the 1940s and 2018, we meet Colette as a young teen, losing her mother and sister as the Germans take over Paris with the help of the French police and collaborators. Over 75 years later, when a missing bracelet that had been sewn into her sister's dress resurfaces in a diamond museum in 2018, Colette must revisit the life choices she made based on what she thought she knew about her mother, her sister, her family and a lost love.

Colette is a character that you can't help but root for, with her complex, tragic family history and never ending ache to right the wrongs she personally witnessed by the Nazis. Her small acts of justice throughout the decades help anonymously fund a Holocaust education center, while her selective thievery pose moral questions about her choices, and compel the reader to think about the grey areas between right and wrong. This is a great read for book clubs as Harmel touches on so many different ways that people in the toughest circumstances can be courageous and how small acts can change the trajectory of evil, a war and social injustice. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. Readers should make sure to read the Author's Note, which shares great insights about the Robin Hood connection, other historical details woven into the story, as well as Harmel's journey with breast cancer. Like her characters, Harmel is inspiring beyond words.

I loved this story so much more than I truly thought I would. Completely captivated me from the start, and I was more absorbed in the plot as it went on. While I don't always like a story told in duel time frames, it was necessary for this story and worked so well.
I thought this story would be about jewel theft, and in a way it is. But truthfully it is so much more. This is about hope, triumph, family, friends, searching for answers, and second chances. I really didn't want the story to end! I highly recommend . This may be my favorite Kristin Harmel books yet!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Kristin Harmel has done it again, and by "it," I mean completely captivated me with another stunning, heart-wrenching, and elegantly crafted novel. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is an irresistible blend of historical fiction, mystery, and emotional depth, solidifying Harmel as my favorite author. And while A Book of Lost Names still holds the top spot in my heart, Colette’s story now claims a very close second.

This time, Harmel spins a tale of glittering jewels, shadowy secrets, and decades-old wounds set against the haunting backdrop of Nazi-occupied Paris. Colette Marceau, a jewel thief with a moral compass (think Robin Hood), has spent her life living by her mother’s code: steal from the cruel, give to the desperate. But when a long-lost diamond bracelet, last seen stitched into her little sister’s nightgown in 1942, mysteriously resurfaces in a Boston museum, Colette is pulled back into a mystery that has haunted her for seventy years.

From the shadows of wartime Paris to the discoveries of the present day, the story unravels with precision and grace, each chapter building seamlessly on the last, unveiling a truth that’s both haunting and profound. There’s heartbreak and healing, betrayal and bravery, and a whisper of romance. Harmel’s writing is as compelling as ever, enriched by her extensive historical research and her remarkable talent for blending real events with fictional narrative in a way that feels both seamless and genuinely authentic.

If I had one small critique, it’s a trend I’ve noticed more broadly in most fiction lately: the well-intentioned but frustrating choice some characters make to keep life-altering secrets in an effort to “protect” others. It's a device that always tugs a little too hard at the patience strings—but in Harmel’s hands, even this trope carries a weight that feels rooted in real emotional complexity.

I’m incredibly grateful to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the Advanced Reader Copy of this gem. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau releases June 17th-mark your calendar, pre-order it, set a reminder, tie a ribbon around your finger- just don’t miss it- this is historical fiction at its finest: elegant, emotional, and utterly unforgettable.

This story was told in two unique timelines. I felt that one storyline moved slower than the other. In one timeline Collette has spent nearly 50 years searching for the person who murdered her four-year-old little sister. The reader sees through flashbacks.

In the other timeline everything becomes clear when a well-known bracelet is on display in a museum. Collette was aware of the bracelet's history. She needed to figure out who was in possession of the bracelet all these years. This is in a challenging situation. She is unable to divulge how she knew about the jewelry because in doing so she would expose herself as a jewel thief.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!

This was reminiscent of Fiona Davis, very enjoyable read. The coincidences did tend to be unbelievable but the characters were so great that you were hoping for that fairy tale ending no matter how implausible. Added the Harmel that hadn’t been read to the TBR pile.

Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite authors. This book is a sloooooow burn. Extremely slow. A beautiful beautiful story but wow that was such a slow start I almost DNFd

This was a very heartwarming story about a French woman named Collette who is a descendent of Robin Hood. She steals from the rich Germans to give to the poor during WWII.
She continues the theft family business even into her late eighties in Boston, but still using her skills to help others for a bigger cause. The novel is set in two different time periods of Collette’s life and as the story unfolds both the past and the present connect with each other to give the characters the happy ending they deserve.
I really enjoyed this book, though I do feel like this story was a little predictable at times. I loved the main character Collette and her determination to figure out mysteries surrounding her younger sister’s death. I loved the two timelines equally, which is rare- usually I like one timeline way more than the other. I would recommend this novel to historical fiction fans who love World War II stories about women.

Loved this book! So interesting and emotional. Colette is a descendant of Robin Hood and a jewelry thief with a connection to beautiful jewels stolen by nazis from a jewish family.
This is a dual timeline novel and I loves the back and forth and how the two timelines were tied together. This is not your usual WW2 novel. Yes, we hear about the atrocities committed against Jewish people, but the meat of the story is the story of the jewels and how they connect people over the passage of time.

Kristen Harmel weaves a captivating story of resilience and redemption in The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau. Set against the backdrop of WWII Paris and unfolding across decades, the novel explores the extraordinary life of Colette, a jewel thief guided by a moral code passed down from her mother. The gripping narrative shifts seamlessly between past and present, revealing the tragic events that shaped her life—her mother's arrest, her sister Liliane's disappearance, and the mysterious loss of a priceless diamond bracelet. Harmel masterfully builds suspense as the long-lost bracelet reemerges in a Boston museum, threatening to uncover long-buried truths and change everything Colette thought she knew about her past. The characters are richly developed, and the emotional depth of their stories lends authenticity to the plot. As secrets come to light, readers are taken on a journey of discovery, forgiveness, and the courage required to confront one’s own history. While at times the pace slows slightly in the middle chapters, the overall storytelling remains compelling and thought-provoking. Fans of historical fiction intertwined with mystery and a touch of romance will find this book both satisfying and inspiring. Kristen Harmel has crafted a beautifully layered novel that reminds us that, sometimes, the greatest treasures are hidden within ourselves.