In our current political climate, I’m finding it harder and harder to read WWII HF. It’s just starting to feel a little too close to home. However, Ms. Harmel is one of my absolute favorite authors so I decided to push through the discomfort and I’m so glad I did. I’m usually pretty good at guessing the plots of a book, and that’s not something that upsets me like the usual reader. But let me tell you, the gasps that I gasped while reading this! A few of the twists I saw coming, some of them completely blindsided me. I loved the relationship between Colette and Aviva, and love that this story focused on chosen family. I love that the story was told mostly through Colette’s POV, but that we got glimpses of other characters through flashbacks. As with all of Ms. Harmel’s books that I’ve read, I would highly recommend this to any WWII HF lovers! This was a beautiful, well-written 5 star book!!

I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it. The history was interesting and I liked the dual timeline. The main character was interesting, but not incredibly compelling.

Another good historical fiction book from Kristin Harmel. I enjoyed the characters and how they all came together.

Nazi Germany, a family of thieves, and a missing little girl.

This story was very fast paced. It was quick to pull me in. It was so many years ago that a bracelet and Colette's little sister disappeared. It was a night of Nazi raids, betrayal, and disarray. But it was devastating losing her sister. Now, years later, the bracelet that went missing has resurfaced, and Colette is determined to find out who had it, where it came from, and what happened to her sister that night long ago.

Each chapter was so engrossing. I loved the world of theft, how we learned the way they bumped, pinched, and easily slid so many valuable jewels off pretty necks and arms in order to pass to others for safe passage and hiding of Jewish families. I loved the way they referenced Peter Pan. The prejudice was ugly but familiar. The love for family and the determination was so alluring and made it easy to keep picking the book up and chasing the plot. The reveals and twists as she tried to figure out who had had it was so well done. I was okay with the love story but I found it more distracting than adding to the story. And the author note was great, don't miss it! I'm really glad the author is feeling better after the battle.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book

If you can't get enough of WWII historical fiction, put this one your TBR immediately! While it was filled with many exciting twists and turns, my favorite part of this book was the main female character - an outspoken, strong-willed 89 year old jewel thief who never got married or had children -- how refreshing! The dual timeline was executed flawlessly, creating suspense and intrigue while the reader navigates through 1930s Paris and present day Boston. There were a little too many coincidences for my liking and things that were tied up a little too neatly, but overall I really enjoyed it!

No one does WWII Paris better than Kriten Harmel and THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU is her best tale by far. The novel is time split between 1940's Paris and 2018 America, but unlike many time split stories it is one main character, jewel thief Colette Marceau, and one story -- her life long quest for a diamond bracelet and the truth about her young sister's death that travel across the decades. Like many readers, I constantly tell myself it is time to leave the WWII fiction behind as I have read dozens and dozens, but I must recommend Harmel's book. It ranks among my top 5 reads for the year.

Kristin Harmel wrote another masterpiece that wove multiple timelines soo incredibly well. This book was a gem to read.

What a delightful foray into the lesser-explored area of France and the effects on Jews and citizens there during WWII! Strong characters, beautiful imagery, and a plot that flows nicely through the different time periods will make this a very popular read for different ages, genders, and interest levels. Imperfect people do heroic things, make mistakes and grow in life. I thought Harmel's story-telling and research were impeccably done. So glad I picked this one up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Colette Marceau has experienced the tragedies of living in Paris during the war. She has lost family, her mother, (a jewel thief dedicated to helping the Jews), her beloved sister, four years old dead, found floating in the Seine, and a disinterested father.

Colette follows in her mother's footsteps and is a jewel thief herself stealing to benefit the poor and downtrodden and she has been quite successful in that endeavor, having claim to have been descendant of Robin Hood.

However, when a missing diamond bracelet, (that was sewn into the nightdress of her sister many years ago) turns up in an exhibit, her need to know is rekindled. Colette embarks on a journey to find the owner of the bracelet for that will perhaps be her sister's killer. Along the way, Colette finds both people and places that she remembers even though she is ninety.

It's an interesting story and we do know that the Nazis did plunder millions of dollars worth of Jewish possessions, hoping to establish a museum with displays of art, furniture and jewels.

The question is will Colette get her answer to her sister's tragic death or will she forever be locked in by the tragedy? I did enjoy the book but felt it was a tad too long and drawn out.

Kristin Harmel is a fantastic historical fiction author that writes books that will keep you interested and eager to know what is going to happen next. I like that she tends to find bits of history and give power to her main characters in a way that other historical fiction books don't because of the bleak history of the time. While this didn't end up my favorite of hers, it was definitely worth the read for any historical fiction fan that is okay with giving a tiny bit of sense of disbelief in some of the scenarios in this plot.

I flew through this book! Just like every other Kristin Harmel book, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen. The book was interesting and engaging. Kristin’s writing is so beautiful and I can’t wait for the next one!

Kristin Harmel has done it again with THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU. It kept me up way past my bedtime because I couldn't put it down. There is so much to love about this one: dual-timeline, jewel thief, WWII, Robin Hood… you need to read this one to see how it all comes together. Colette was a beautiful character, and I enjoyed how Harmel wove the timelines together.
I cannot recommend this one enough, and I am happy to have a signed copy for my bookshelf.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

I love reading anything written by Kristin Harmel. This story pulled me in right away!
This is a story about Colette, she is 89 years old when we read her story. We get background about Colette as a young child into her adult life.
Ask yourself this, “would you be capable of doing the wrong thing for the right reason?”
This is what the story has us wondering and pondering about.
Colette does what she does to help others. It is her passion…something she feels the need to do.
We also get insight into the Holocaust and the resistance groups.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

An incredible story of hope amidst heartbreak set in Paris in the 1940's, Colette Marceau is the daughter of Annabel and a descendant of Robin Hood. Raised to carry on the family tradition of stealing jewels from people who are cruel or aligned with forces of evil and using the proceeds to help those in need. When Annabel steals a pair of bracelets that had belonged to her Jewish friend prior to the abduction of her family, she is caught and arrested along with her husband and Colette. Her younger daughter Liliane disappears the same night and her body is found later floating in the river. Gone however was one of the bracelets that had been sewn into her nightgown. The remaining bracelet is with Colette who makes it her life's mission to find out what happened and who was responsible for the death of her sister.

Going back and forth in time between the 1940's and 2018, the story unfolds weaving forward and back upon itself to make a beautiful tapestry. As we are introduced to a group of richly nuanced characters that the reader won't soon forget. The book is historically accurate and is educational as well as entertaining.

This is one of my favorite books of 2025. I will continue to recommend this book to anyone and everyone who will listen.

Colette Marceau may be 90 years old, but she has a secret. She’s a jewel thief who has stolen over $30 million in jewels in her lifetime. She doesn’t do it for greed though. Her family is descended from Robin Hood and follows his “Rob the rich to give to the poor” mantra. She only steals from evil people and she donates all the money to good causes, like The Boston Center for Holocaust Education, which she founded (anonymously). She learned her skills from her mother, who used her skills to steal from the Nazis in occupied Paris and gave the money to the resistance. But those thefts cost her mother her life and the life of Colette’s sister. And she’s felt the guilt of that loss for 70 years.

When a diamond bracelet last seen on her sister the night she tied turns up in a museum, Colette needs answers. But to get those answers she has to let people in and trust them with her secrets and shame.

This one was real tear-jerker. I cried a lot throughout the story and especially at the end. The plot was engaging and unique. I love dual timelines and this one was done well. The mystery unfolded slowly both in the past and in the present. This one manages to pack a lot of suspense into a familiar setting (WW2). I am always surprised when there’s an aspect of WW2 that I haven’t read about, but this one definitely brings the occupation of Paris to life in a new way. I had never heard of the jewel thieves that kept the resistance solvent.

The characters were unusual in a good way. I loved that there were so many characters in their 90s that were still a valued part of their communities.

My only complaint is that all the loose ends are tied up neatly. Perhaps too neatly? I definitely wanted everyone to get a happy ending. But it felt a bit unrealistic. Then again, it would have been a much sadder story otherwise!

Thank you to @Netgalley @gallerybooks and @simonandschuster for the chance to review this ARC.

Dual time line novel that comes together beautifully. An unusual portrayal of a family legacy and the impact on World War II. From the story of Robin Hood comes a family who lives his creed. Mix that with WWII and the rich who are robbed are the Nazis and Nazi sympathizers. Colette Marceau, our heroine, comes from a long line of jewel thieves purportedly descended from Robin Hood. Her mother Annabel instructed Colette from a young age in all the tricks of the trade. But there was a code of honor her family adhered to; only evil, unkind people were robbed and their jewelry was always used to fund charitable causes, never kept for self-enrichment. Colette's family lived in Paris when the Germans invaded and started their mass deportations. Everyone in Paris was on edge; not only were the Germans rounding up Jews and other Frenchmen, but the French were often turning on each other. As the horrors added up, Colette's mother continued to steal in order to fund the resistance. Inevitably the Marceau family was arrested. Annabel was murdered in a German prison. Colette and her father were released, but her 4 year old sister Liliane had been stolen from their apartment and her body later retrieved from the Seine. Colette experiences tragedy and abandonment through the war years and throughout her lifetime. Through many mishaps and much misinformation, she leads a lonely life, always searching for answers as to what really happened during the war years. But now, as Colette is approaching ninety, serendipity steps in. Through a series of unexpected occurrences, all the questions find answers, all the mysteries are solved. This story was so difficult, so painful at times, that I read a second book at the same time to have some respite from the heaviness. And this book has two plots, two timelines, going simultaneously, with the past and current life of Colette Marceau, the jewel thief extraordinaire. This book is a powerful reminder of the great injustices during the war and those who made sacrifices for the sake of others.

Not my favorite of hers but still an excellent and emotional novel about WWII. If you’re a KH fan, it’s definitely worth a read

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel
Kristin Harmel knows how to craft a compelling story. This book tells the story of Colette Marceau. She and her family live in Paris in 1939, and she has grown up with the stories of Robin Hood. Colette’s mother, Annabelle, is a direct descendant of Robin Hood, and she is determined to carry on the Robin Hood tradition.
After learning how to steal jewels only from the evil and dishonest, Colette and her mother help try to help Jews escape Hitler’s extermination. In theprocess, Colette loses her family and is forever changed by this loss.
In the present, Colette is an 82-year-old woman, that has stolen from Nazis her entire life. She must come to terms with her past, especially when she hears that a long missing diamond bracelet that was stolen by her mother over 60 years ago has resurfaced. This priceless bracelet could be the key to solving the mystery of her sister’s disappearance and could help her find peace with her past.
Colette lives her life through asking the question: “What can I do—in the small moments of my life—to make the world a better place?” Colette Marceau must trust others to help her find the peace that she has searched for her entire life.
#netgalley

I always tell my friends that if they love Kristin Hannah as an author, they will be equally enamored by Kristin Harmel. Her books are heartbreaking, endearing, and beautiful, and this latest novel is no exception. The mysteries embedded in this one and dual timeline keep me ripping through pages late into the night. I love how her books always teach me a bit more about history, too. No spoilers, but a very well done book that earns an easy five stars from me.

Just when I think I’ve read every iteration of WWII historical fiction, I come across this gem of a story! Descended from Robin Hood and committed to the familial duty of robbing the rich to assist the less fortunate, Colette’s story takes the reader into an intimate story of loss, overcoming, survival, and the unwinding of an almost-lost history. Highly recommend!