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.

Step one - Add this book to your TBR!
Step two - Read it as soon as it's published!

I didn't want to put this book down. I was absolutely immersed and invested in this World War 2 novel. There is mystery, tragedy, and multiple love stories.

It begins in Paris with Colette's mother, a jewel thief from a long line of jewel thieves following a code of honor similar to Robin Hood, teaching Colette to follow in her footsteps so they can help fund the French Resistance.

Eventually, everything goes wrong, and her mother is arrested, and her 4 year old sister is kidnapped.

Present day, Colette is still struggling with the guilt and sadness of her past, and even at 89, she is still trying to figure out who was responsible for that tragic night in Paris.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

This just didn't do it for me. The amount of coincidences and connections made it impossible to suspend disbelief. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite authors. I was thrilled when this book became available as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC). It exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend this five star book.

The story is a dual timeline that works well because of Ms. Harmel's superb writing. It's set during the 1940s Nazi occupied Paris and also 2018.

Colette is descended from Robin Hood, and comes from a long line of jewelry thieves. The family only steals from the rich or people that deserve to be stolen from and they give the proceeds to the poor. Colette is taught at a young age how to do it right. When a missing bracelet from her childhood is discovered at a museum in 2018, she unravels the mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This is my honest review.

There was so much emotion between these pages that certain scenes had my heart breaking.

This is a dual POV book. One set in Paris in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s when people of the Jewish faith were forced to wear a yellow star and Hitler’s soldiers took what they wanted. The other timeline is in 2018, following the FMC, Collette, as she keeps the family tradition going even though it is only her.

See, Collette and her sister Liliane were raised on stories that they were descended from Robin Hood and destined to be thief’s, but they should only steal from the cruel and unkind and help others with the money. This is what they did from the time Colette turned 10 and stole her first piece of jewelry.

They were French and thought they were safe, but something happened and they weren’t. Even her own father abandoned her. She thought she lost everything in Paris, her family and the boy she loved.

She continued to steal for decades until a piece of jewelry opened wounds that never really healed.

This is a beautifully, at times heartbreaking book of one woman’s journey and how sometimes you find what you were looking for in unexpected places.

I’d like to thank Gallery Books, NetGalley and Kristin Harmel for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Happy reading!

Unfortunately, compared to Harmel’s other books, this was a disappointment. The main storyline felt as though it dragged, and I didn’t “buy” the idea of the main characters partaking in jewelry stealing. That being said, the writing style was palatable and I was curious about the ending enough to finish the book.

I was SO SO excited to receive an advance copy of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristen Harmel. She is a reliable 5 star author for me. I love her unique prespectives on WWII along with her writing style. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau was no different. The main character, Colette, is a jewel thief (both in the present and during WWII), which is honestly something I would have never thought of in relation to that time period of history. It also poses an interesting moral dilemma - is it okay to do something "bad" if it's for a "good" reason/cause? I think no matter what your answer to that question is, Harmel does a great job portraying Colette as a likeable main character despite being a thief. The entire book is also spent trying to solve the mystery of Colette's younger sister during the war and to a lesser extent looking for the boy she fell in love with at the time. So as not to reveal any spoilers, I will just say, I love how everything ended up. I absolutely flew through this and wished there was more.

Immediately 5 stars! I was so drawn into the characters and story I didn't want it to end. Heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time!

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is a captivating blend of historical fiction, mystery, and women’s fiction, centered around a jewel thief with a possible lineage tracing back to Robin Hood—at least if her mother’s tales are to be believed. Colette and her mother operate in Nazi-occupied Paris, stealing from the corrupt and powerful to support those in need and to help fund the French resistance.

Tragedy strikes when her mother is arrested and her younger sister goes missing, presumed dead. The only clues left behind are two pieces of a priceless bracelet once stolen in an act of vengeance. This discovery launches a dual-timeline story that eventually leads to modern-day Boston, where a piece of the bracelet resurfaces and the mysteries surrounding Colette’s life begin to unravel.

Kristin Harmel does a wonderful job weaving together past and present, drawing readers into a story full of secrets, resilience, and unforgettable characters. The emotional depth and suspense kept me engaged throughout, and the jewel thief angle added a fresh twist to the historical fiction genre.

I’d recommend this book to fans of historical mysteries, layered women’s fiction, and anyone who enjoys stories about bravery, sisterhood, and redemption. It would also make a great pick for book clubs, with plenty to discuss around its themes of loss, loyalty, and legacy.

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.