The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel 

From New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel comes The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, a sweeping historical novel of resistance, sacrifice, and a lifetime spent searching for redemption.

Colette Marceau has spent decades living by a code passed down from her mother: steal only from the cruel, give to those in need, and never forget where you came from. As a skilled jewel thief with a conscience, Colette has quietly redistributed over $30 million in precious gems to fund charitable causes. But her secret life is haunted by a single, devastating night during World War II.

In Nazi-occupied Paris in 1942, Colette worked with her mother Annabel to fund the French Resistance. But during a raid gone wrong, Annabel was captured and executed, and Colette’s young sister Liliane vanished—last seen wearing a nightgown stitched with a priceless diamond bracelet for safekeeping. Her body was later found in the Seine. The bracelet, however, was never recovered. Until now.

When the long-lost bracelet unexpectedly appears in a Boston museum exhibit seventy years later, Colette’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Driven by a need for answers, she sets out on a journey that will force her to confront painful truths, uncover hidden secrets, and reckon with the choices she made long ago.

Spanning wartime Paris to present-day America, The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau is a powerful story of family, memory, and the invisible scars of history. With Harmel’s signature emotional depth and richly researched storytelling, this novel will captivate readers who love historical fiction, dual timelines, WWII-era intrigue, and strong female protagonists determined to right the wrongs of the past.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn, and Martha Hall Kelly, this unforgettable novel explores how one woman’s stolen life might finally be restored by the truth—and the enduring strength of hope.