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Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025
THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU by Kristin Harmel is a WWII story centered on a jewel thief. To be honest, that topic didn’t particularly call to me; however, I’ve read Kristin’s books and know she delivers fantastic stories. I had to give it a try, and she didn’t disappoint. THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLETTE MARCEAU, a 5-star read, is so much more than a WWII or jewel thief story. I highly recommend it!
The book releases on June 17, 2025, but you can preorder it now. Preordering is a huge help to authors.
Book Summary
Book SummaryThis dual timeline story of Colette’s life is set in 1944 Paris and in 2018 Boston. I was immediately interested when I discovered the jewel thief was nearly 90 years old and still stealing. Just the idea of an old woman jewel thief, who no one would suspect, made me smile. The story brings up the question—Is it ever okay to steal? Most people would say no, but in this book, you’ll be rooting for the thief!
During her childhood, Colette is trained by her jewel thief mother. As descendants of Robin Hood, they live by a strict code to only steal from unkind, hurtful people and to give the proceeds to good causes. Her mother’s cause of choice is The Resistance, to help get Jews out of Paris and create forged documents for them.
Colette’s mother is afraid her children could be separated from her during the war. She sews stolen items into the hem of Colette’s and her sister’s nightgowns, to use in an emergency to buy protection for themselves. Most recently, each of them has a diamond bracelet sewn into their clothes. The two bracelets fit together into one magnificent piece. The night Mother is arrested, Colette’s sister also disappears, taken by an unknown person in uniform. Because Colette feels guilty about her sister’s abduction, she spends the next 76 years searching for the other bracelet, hoping it will bring answers to what happened to her sister that night.
In 2018 Boston, Colette is a volunteer at the Holocaust Museum, the same museum founded through her anonymous financial gift. She continues to support it through her thievery and volunteer work. When Colette discovers a diamond museum will be displaying the missing bracelet, she needs to uncover who is loaning the piece for the show. The bracelet’s discovery brings the possibility of closure to old wounds and possibly getting justice for her sister. Getting answers isn’t easy when the truth is tied to old war events and questionable choices. Colette’s friends take active roles in helping her uncover the truth. The secrets they discover aren’t what they thought they’d find.
My Thoughts
I loved Kristin’s character development, especially of Colette. The writing kept me engaged, the flow of the story was smooth, and the ending was satisfying. When I finished, I marveled at how she planted so many tidbits in the 1944 portion and tied it all together in 2018. She is a master storyteller!
If you don’t want to read about the atrocities of WWII but enjoy historical fiction, this is a great book for you. Kristin brings us into the everyday lives of Parisians and includes events, like the roundups in the Jewish sector, without emphasizing the horror. She doesn’t downplay the significance, but the story is based mostly on Colette’s non-Jewish family’s experience during the war.
*Note: I received the Advance Reader’s Copy from Gallery Books and NetGalley, but the opinions are always my own.
About the Author
Kristin Harmel spent her childhood near Boston, Massachusetts, and in Worthington, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After earning her journalism degree from the University of Florida, she lived in Paris and Los Angeles, but she now calls Orlando, Florida, home with her husband and son. She is a New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and #1 international bestselling author, and a breast cancer survivor.
She has a special heart for writing fiction based on WWII events, often set in one of her favorite places—Paris. (Her other favorite place is Disney World. It’s convenient she lives in Orlando!) She is also a co-founder and co-host of Friends & Fiction, a weekly web show where authors interview other authors.
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