In the predawn hours of March 7, 1908, the corridors of Nice’s Hôtel Impérial were quiet. Down one plush hallway, a woman in black moved noiselessly in felt-soled shoes, melting into the shadows. She wore a black veil that shrouded her features and carried a set of silver lockpicks. But she was not alone. After years of pursuit, French police were about to catch the so-called Comtesse de Monteil in the act. Her real name was Amélie Condemine and she was a jewel thief, cat burglar, and con artist. For nearly two decades, this stylish swindler stole her way across the Mediterranean’s most opulent tourist destination, leading a band of thieves who took on similarly grand identities, posing as an Italian diplomat or the son of a wealthy shipowner. The capture of the Comtesse de Monteil was an immediate media sensation, making international headlines from Paris to New Zealand. Discover the history of France’s most notorious female jewel thief—and real life “Catwoman”—and learn about the stories that she has inspired.