The Stolen Life of Collette Marceau by @kristinharmel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re a historical fiction lover, this book is a MUST read. WWII, young love, jewel thieves, Robin Hood, family, sacrifice, tenacity, and an ending that ties this beautifully woven story together so beautifully. This book is definitely going to be a top 5 contender for me this year. Highly recommend!

I received an ARC ebook compliments of @netgalley, @kristinharmel, and @gallerybooks - thank you!!

All opinions are honest and my own.

#netgalley #thestolenlifeofcollettemarceau #goodreads #historicalfiction #bookstagram #literarypearlsof25 #kristinharmel

Riveting historical fiction, and gorgeous cover art!
Descended from Robin Hood, Colette Marceau learned how relieve bad people of their jewels from her mother, always following the family code of honor. With Colette coming of age in Paris at the outset of WWII, the bad people she and her mother stole from included Nazis and sympathizers, with proceeds going to fund the resistance. But her mother is caught and, in the confusion of her arrest, Colette's younger sister is kidnapped and later found dead in the Seine, the diamond bracelet sewn into the hem of her nightgown gone. The second timeline of this book is 2018, with Colette living in Boston, nearly 90 but not retired. When the diamond bracelet that went missing with Colette's sister shows up at a museum in Boston, Colette is determined to find out who it belongs to and what they know about her sister's death. Alternating between the past and present, the story was emotional and suspenseful. The characters were richly portrayed, multidimensional and engaging, and the story well-researched, all as I've come to expect of Kristin Harmel!

Another gem! Kristin Harmel may have taken a bit longer to write The Secret Life of Colette Marceau (due to her battle with breast cancer 💗) but it was so worth the wait. She is back and her writing is even better! I loved this book, how she is able to spin another tale of incredible acts of resilience during the terrible times of occupied France during WW2.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for an early copy. All opinions are my own.

Colette Marceau has spent a lifetime stealing from the cruel to help those in need, a family legacy born out of necessity and heartbreak during the Second World War. In 1942 Paris, Colette and her mother Annabel secretly funded the French Resistance through their jewel thefts—until a fateful night tore everything apart. Annabel was arrested and executed, Colette’s little sister Liliane disappeared during the raid, and all that remained was a heartbreaking mystery—and a diamond bracelet that vanished with her. Seventy years later, that very bracelet surfaces in a Boston museum, and Colette is forced to revisit the most painful moments of her life to uncover the truth about her past, her sister, and the secrets that still haunt her.

Well... Kristin Harmel just shattered and rebuilt my heart! I absolutely loved this book and was hooked by every twist, every bit of heartache, and every glimmer of love and hope woven throughout. The Robin Hood nod was perfection and I couldn’t help but root for Colette and the thieves. The dual timelines were incredibly emotional, beautifully showing Colette’s journey from a determined young girl to a woman carrying so much grief and strength. I listened to part of this on audio and it was stunning. Kristin Harmel’s books on audio are always my go to. I had high hopes for where this story would go, and it exceeded them.

Thank you to Gallery Books, NetGalley, and the author for giving me a chance to read and review my favorite author’s new book.

If you have not read a book by her, I suggest starting with my favorite- The Book of Lost Names! This is my second favorite book by her as well.

This is enjoyable historical fiction set in two time periods-World War II and the present. The story twists and turns with plenty of surprises to keep the story interesting. There is a fine line sometimes between right and wrong, and the author makes a good case in the plot for some wrongs do work to make a right. Harmel's writing, as always, keeps the story moving without dragging. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about how every day people helped to affect the outcome of the war.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is an outstanding book that grabbed me from the start! Kristin Harmel is such a talented author. I highly recommend her latest book!

The stolen life of Colette Marceau is SO good- it’s in the running for my book of the year. I’ve never read anything by Kristin Harmel, but I have so many of her books on my TBR! Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC and the motivation to pick this one up. It was great throughout. So well written; there was never a dull moment. I was engaged and lost in the story. WWII tragedy after tragedy, but then over 70 years later Colette is finally getting answers for questions she’s searched for her whole life. So much grief and regret. Lots of ‘what ifs’ or ‘could have been’. It was heartbreaking but full of hope. Some of the revelations had me gasp in shock. This story was full of emotion and I had tears in my eyes throughout the second half. If you like an ending with all the details wrapped up nicely, you’ll like this. A few things were hard to believe, but just enjoy.. don’t think too hard about the unlikelyness of some of the coincidences.

I highly recommend this one!!

Two storylines from different times. We have 1934 into World War 2 and present times. Backstory was a little convoluted but I stayed to solve the mystery of the missing bracelet. Interesting.

"The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau" by Kristin Harmel was my first introduction to this author's work, and I was certainly intrigued by its premise. With the historical fiction genre often filled with World War II stories, the idea of a jewel thief protagonist immediately caught my eye as a fresh and unique angle.

Harmel clearly put a lot of thought into crafting her story, and I appreciated the ambition of the dual timelines, moving between the 1930s/40s and 2018. The cast of characters, measuredly expanding, initially promised an interesting ensemble.

However, as I delved deeper, I found that the book, unfortunately, didn't quite manage to hold my attention in the way I'd hoped. While I admired the unique setup, I personally struggled to connect with the characters on a deeper, more relatable level. Additionally, in the 2018 timeline, I occasionally found that information was reiterated frequently from the previous timeline, which sometimes slowed the pacing for me.

The intricate web of connections among the characters was a significant part of the plot, and while some of these reveals were clearly designed to be surprising, I sometimes felt that certain links should have been discovered earlier by the characters themselves, rather than being held back by what felt like pure plot convenience or secrets that perhaps didn't need to be kept until the bitter end. The repeated discussions of characters who were believed to be deceased also, for me, lessened the impact when those characters eventually surfaced.

Ultimately, while "The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau" brought a genuinely fresh concept to the WWII historical fiction genre, it didn't quite land for me personally. I'm always open to exploring different voices, and this experience certainly wouldn't deter me from considering Kristin Harmel's other works should I come across them in the future. For readers who enjoy intricate, sprawling mysteries with a unique historical backdrop, this might be a compelling read.

The Stolen Life of Collette Marceau by Kristin Harmel is an interesting book to read. I found it quite difficult to put down! It contains 2 major story lines with one being during WWII and one being present day. Both story lines pulled me in and held my attention.

The main character was Collette Marceau who was a teenager during WWII and is an older adult in the present day. The story is about her, but it is much less simple than that. Colette Marceau is a shadowy figure that is slowly revealed as the story continues. She is a jewel thief, a resistance fighter, and a woman desperately wondering where her family is.

It is hard to describe the plot line of the novel, but it is not hard to read, to enjoy, to become so entranced with the characters that you feel you must know about everything. Her arrogance for demanding the truth at times borders on cruelty, but even that is expected. The novel is so well written that I truly enjoyed reading it. The Stolen Life of Collette Marceau by Kristin Harmel is a good read.

4.5 / 5.0 Stars

This is yet another spectacular and wonderfully crafted tale from Kristin Harmel, a magnificent storyteller and writer.

Colette, our plucky protagonist, in 1934 is brought into the "family business" by her mother, Annabel, a skilled jewel thief. They live by a long established code that they may only steal for the greater good from someone who is evil and undeserving and never for their own personal gain. By the time the Germans arrive in 1941, the thievery is done in support of the French Underground. A pair of magnificent bracelets are stolen from a dear Jewish compatriot. When Annabel sees the bracelets on the arm of a German officers paramour, she sets out to steal them back, to be returned to their rightful owner upon her friend's return to Paris. Annabel then stitches the bracelets into the hems of her daughters night dresses for safekeeping. One horrible evening, the Germans come to take Colette's family away but not before Colette's sister is pulled through the window and taken far afield. Later, the family is informed that Colette's sister was found drowned in the Seine and it appears that the bracelet had been removed from Colette's sister's nightdress' hem. Move forward sixty-plus years, Colette hears of the display of her sister's matching bracelet and is driven to know its story as it may finally give her answers regarding the demise of her sister. To live with such guilt, perhaps Colette had not really lived at all.

This was such a tender and emotion-filled story. The historical record richly provided the framework through which Ms. Harmel deftly wove her story. How much compassion would one normally have for a jewel thief? Yet, the reader has every bit of it for Colette. She's a strong, capable woman with a firm conscience which guides her. The writing itself is exquisite and enthralling. The mise en scène is beautifully crafted and highly atmospheric. A delightful added bonus was the setting of Colette's home in my own hometown of Quincy, Massachusetts. It was as if the book was written just for me. If well-written heartfelt historical fiction appeals then this may well be a book written just for you as well.

I am grateful to Gallery Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication date: June 17, 2025
Number of Pages: 384
ISBN: 978-1982191733

Yet another beautifully written book from this author. I was intrigued reading the editor's blurb and jumped right into the book. As with so many historical fiction stories, this is told in a dual timeline. This book is FABULOUS. Colette has spent her entire life guilt ridden for things she has no control over. With her mother and sister gone, she became mission oriented. She became a modern day Robin Hood of sorts. It was her way of giving back and trying to balance the scales of the evil that she and the world experienced. This was a beautifully written story about love, loss, ghosts, family, war, heinous crimes against humanity, what one will do for love and uncovering what really happened to her family. I am so glad I read this amazing, emotional book.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

I enjoyed this dual timeline historical fiction novel and thought the premise was very interesting - if Colette can find out where the missing bracelet has been for the last 75 years, she will finally learn who murdered her sister. I did find it difficult to connect with the main characters and some of the backstory was overly convoluted, but this was an entertaining read nonetheless.

Colette Marceau grew up in Paris during World War II. She is an expert jewel thief, having learned all the tricks from her mother, who used the stolen jewelry to fund the French Resistance against the Nazis. One night in 1942, Colette, her mother, and her father were all arrested by the Germans for stealing jewelry. In particular, her mother had stolen a pair of diamond bracelets; one bracelet had been sewn into each girl’s nightgown. Colette’s sister Lilianne was taken out the back window while the family was being arrested. A day or two later, Colette and her father were released. Colette tried to find her sister, but rumors said that she was found drowned in the nearby lake. Soon after, Colette learned that her mother had been killed. Colette has spent years trying to find out what happened to her sister and the bracelet that was in her nightgown. Colette still has her bracelet. One day, there is a new museum that opens; and it’s showcasing the other bracelet. Colette is now determined to find out who had the bracelet and how it ended up in the museum. I thought this book started very strong, and I was totally engrossed in the mystery of Lillianne and the bracelet. However, I felt the pacing slow in the middle until the last third of the book. I did really enjoy the ending though. Overall, still a great read.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kristin Harmel is rapidly becoming my favorite WWII writer of historical fiction. This story set in Nazi occupied France and in 1980s USA tells the story of a jewel thief. She has inherited her talent from her mother. She hones her slight of hand, and only steals from those that are evil. The story unfolds in a back and forth time frame. Harmel uses her outstanding research skills and knowledge of the era to make this story believable and teach some of the era's history. The main character becomes lovable as we learn to understand her motivation and life story and how it is intertwined with the other characters. If you love stories from the WWII era, mysteries, with a bit of romance thrown in you will love this one. I think it is one of Harmel's best to date. Thanks to #NetGalley#Kristen Harmel#TheStolenLIfeofColetteMarceau for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book. .

Thank you very much, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC!

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau* is a captivating, emotional, and beautifully crafted historical drama set during World War II, featuring dual timelines. The characters, particularly Colette, truly capture your heart and refuse to let go! This story is filled with mystery, heartache, and love, reminiscent of a modern-day Robin Hood in historical fiction. It is, without a doubt, a stunning tale!

I have always loved Kristin Harmel’s book and her newest one is just as god as her others. Harmel tends to focus her stories on ethical issues surrounding wartimes and in her newest novel she looks at a family who steals from the bad in order to help the good. The story bounces between 2018 when an aged woman name Colette comes across a bracelet from her past that she feels can lead her to finally finding out what happened to her sister seventy plus years prior. It then goes back to 1940’s German occupied France when Colette was a 14 year old girl and her life is forever changed by the actions of the Germans.

The story had a great flow and kept me invested until the very end when Colette’s story is very neatly tied together. Thank you to the publishers and to Netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have enjoyed several of Kristin Harmel's novels and was thrilled to have the opportunity to read the ARC of this one from NetGalley. Although it is primarlily a work of historical fiction it had so many other elements - it's a family saga, with elements of romance, thivery, murder, loss and grief - plus a twist I didn't see coming. Told in dual timelines, the chararcters are well-developed and likable. Harmel's research is solid. She reassured me that no matter how many WWII books I've read, there are still a lot more stories to tell.

I loved the ending!

The author never fails to pen a tale that weaves gracefully between the present day and the past.

The Marceau family continues in the family legacy of Robin Hood as we enter into Paris in WWII. Annabelle steals in order to fund the resistance movement and to protect the lives of the Jews. Collette completes her thievery in the present day in America to fund noble causes.

All of the characters in the story center around the jewelery and how their choices affect the rest of their lives.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Oh my! Kristen Harmel is a queen of weaving a mystery with a historical fiction story. Told in two timelines, we see how the events of 1942 have impacted the events in 2018 with Colette Marceau. Together with her mother, Colette followed the family tradition of being a jewel thief in the style of Robin Hood, Colette has sought to right the wrongs of the past by stealing from people who were Nazi sympathizers to help those who have been victimized. Back in 1942, her mother was imprisoned and killed for stealing from a high Nazi officer while her younger sister was kidnapped and then found dead in a river. All her life, Colette blamed herself for not protecting her sister and sought to find justice. Now as an octogenarian, she comes across the other half of a bracelet which was sewn into the hem of her sister's nightgown when she was stolen in the night, and it may be the clue to what happened to her sister. Descriptive of the settings helps to transport the reader back to Paris during the German occupation in WWII and to travel across to the United States decades later. Easy to follow, there was no confusion between the back and father timeline, but rather it helped to further the story when needed and helped the mystery unfold. I loved the connections made between the characters of the past and present. This is a book that as a fan of historical fiction and mysteries really spoke to me. Well done. Many thanks to #netgalley #simonandshuster #thestolenlifeofcolettemarceau #kirstinharmel for the opportunity to read and review this book.