The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau (by Kristin Harmel)
I’ve been a fan of historical fiction novels for a long time and have always wanted to read a book by Kristin Harmel. When I saw her latest novel, ‘The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau,’ become available on Libby, I couldn’t resist placing a hold on the audiobook. It was the perfect way to finally add her work to my TBR list.
‘The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau’ is a sweeping, multi-generational historical novel that weaves together the intrigue of World War II with a modern quest for justice. Set in 1940s Paris, the story follows young Colette Marceau, who inherits her family’s centuries-old tradition of jewel theft from a lineage of “Robin Hood” outlaws. These outlaws stole from the cruel and corrupt, like the Nazis, to aid the needy and the French Resistance. Decades later, when a priceless bracelet linked to her sister’s tragic murder resurfaces, an elderly Colette must confront her buried grief, moral dilemmas, and long-suppressed truths alongside a new generation.
Reading a book set in World War II can be challenging, as it requires me to confront the grave injustices, unimaginable hardships, and intimate losses that people experienced during that time. Colette’s childhood story was particularly poignant and brought tears to my eyes more than once. I appreciated how the story seamlessly transitioned between her upbringing during the war and her present day as an octogenarian. The connection to Robin Hood was particularly creative, blurring the moral lines of theft and adding depth to the narrative. The story continued to evolve and introduce new characters, and it ended with a completely unexpected twist that left me thoroughly satisfied.
I borrowed the audiobook of ‘The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau’ from my local library using Libby. Madeline Maby’s narration was exceptional, and her use of the French language was beautiful and poetic. Harmel provided an informative and insightful Author’s Note at the end, which she narrated. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and immediately placed a library hold for another one of Harmel’s novels.
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