This novel is told through the perspectives of two different female expats. Rayna, who is recently divorced and has moved to Amsterdam to start a new life and Willow, who is married to the heir to the Prins diamond house. After a wild night out with successful and handsome Prins diamond creator Xander, Rayna awakens to find him murdered and his safe full of diamonds empty. Now she finds herself not only a suspect in a murder investigation, but also being hunted down by whoever murdered Xander. Meanwhile, Willow Prins learns of Xander’s death and is concerned her husband may have been involved in the killing of his ex-employee. Both women don’t know who to trust in this foreign country as they strive to find who is behind the killing and theft. As the story progresses, the two find they may have to trust each other to try and stay alive and solve this murder and find the diamonds before it is too late.

Kimberly Belle has quickly become a go-to author for me. She’s so good at writing twisty, pulse-pounding thrillers that grip you from the very first page. Her book, The Paris Widow, was one of my favorite books last year, so I was pumped to get the chance to read her newest book, The Expat Affair, early.

This one takes place in the diamond trade industry in Amsterdam, and the story begins with a brutal murder. A couple of the twists were predictable, but my jaw hit the floor a couple times, too. It’s fast paced, and could easily be read in one sitting. There were a couple times I had to put it down to go be an adult and I was sorely disappointed I couldn’t keep reading.

I loved this book, and highly recommend checking it out when it hits shelves on June 3rd! I’ll definitely be snagging a physical copy for my own shelves.

Big thanks to @netgalley, @htp_hive, and @htpbooks for this #gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was the best Kimberly Belle book in a long time. The characters were interesting and the plot kept me guessing the whole time. The ending was a little bit disappointing to me but overall, a really fun read.

I enjoyed this one. I wasn't sure if I would because of the diamond market. I have no knowledge at all, but I still found it really interesting.

Rayna and Willow are both somewhat likeable, but it was hard to know how they really were. There were secrets and flat out lies. It's honestly hard to trust everyone except for Willow's son. I really liked that the book took place in Amsterdam and that not all the characters were from there. I could understand some of the frustrations with language and just basic laws, etc. The main family is hard to like. At all. Some were worse than others. The pacing was good and there were some twists.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

The Expat Affair: A Murder Mystery with a Strong Female Protagonist in Amsterdam's Diamond Industry by Kimberly Belle is a fast-paced thriller set in Amsterdam with a diamond house family as the center point of attention. Rayna is an American who thought she was leaving a bad relationship to have a fun time in a new city far from home. Who knew so much trouble would find this American so quickly with just one date with a gorgeous man? You'll find out how much trouble found its way as you continue to read the story. Many twists within the story weaving its branches between the family and the American Expats. Yes, two! You will enjoy this book right to the end holding your breath as you turn page after page - eating the story raw! Put all your plans on hold until you finish this book! I give this book 5 STARS!!!

Great story. The characters are believable. Love the twists. Plot was interesting. Kimberly Belle does another great writing job.

You can always count on a Kimberly Belle book to be engrossing, twisty, and action packed. This book was all of those things and more! Two American women living in Amsterdam, a shocking murder, and lots and lots of missing diamonds. Be prepared for what I think is the best first chapter ever! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The Expat Affair is fast paced, action packed read that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens.

Murder, secrets. lies, intrigue and scandal hook the reader from the first to the last page.

Rayna and Willow are two expats living in Amesterdam who's paths cross when a friend of Willow's and a man Rayna had a one stand with is murdered visciously.

Diamonds are missing since Rayna was known to be there she is in danger.

Prime suspect for the murder and theft of diamonds.

Kimberly Bell writes so descriptively you feel that you are biking the streets of Amerstdam and all the characters are so well defined.

Characters we love and characters we love to snarl at and I trusted no one.

Highly recommend you grab your copy of The Expat Affair, clear your calendar because this bookis hard to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harelquin Trade Publishing/Park Row for the privilege of reading and reviewing The Expat Affair.

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. This book had some twists and I turns I didn't expect.

Once again, Kimberly Belle upped her game and took me on a journey through Amsterdam that had me turning pages faster than I thought possible. This author has a way of tempting readers to get lost within the pages of her books and not realize the time until you're waaaaayyy past your bedtime. A must read for any reader who likes getting lost within a story and likes destination books.

Book review 📖

📜The Expat Affair
✍️Kimberly Belle
📠Harlequin/ Park Row
📚Mystery/Thriller Fiction
🗓️Pub date: June 3, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @parkrowbooks for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to @kimberlybellebooks who always knows how to write a sparkling gem of a book!

✨After a nasty divorce, Rayna Dumont, decides to start a fresh life in Amsterdam. She’s not one for one-night stands but finds Xander irresistable, as he’s handsome, wealthy, and up for some fun.

✨After spending the night with Xander, Rayna finds him dead on the shower floor and an empty safe that had previously been full of diamonds.

✨In another extravagent home across the city, Willow Prins has heard of Xander’s death. Willow’s husband is Xander’s ex-boss and now heir to a diamond house. Willow and Rayna are then dragged into the dark and dangerous underbelly of the diamond trade and must find the truth to the murder in order to survive.

✨I’ve always been a huge fan of Kimberly Belle’s writing, and this one certainly did not disappoint. If you’re looking for a suspenseful, cat-and-mouse chase, The Expat Affair will be right up your alley!

#netgalley #theexpataffair #kimberlybelle #parkrow #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #springreleases #thrillerfiction

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Expat Affair was a hugely enjoyable mystery that reminded me of a modern take on classic suspenseful films. Transplant to Amsterdam Rayna (who is trying to put distance between herself and a painful divorce) is our main character, though we also get the perspective of Willow, who is also a transplant hiding a huge secret. When Rayna’s one night stand is murdered while she’s asleep and diamonds go missing, Willow finds herself feeling drawn to helping her, possibly to hide her own involvement.

What follows is a lot of threads that you just know where will be satisfying to follow and a hugely shocking discovery to not only the murderer but what’s going on behind the theft. I absolutely adored this and hope Kimberly Belle has more mysteries in this style as she will become a fast favorite.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an adrenaline pumping, gripping story that tells the story of two expat women both weaved into the dark and deceitful web of the diamond world in Amsterdam .

"𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒓𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅."~𝑫𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒐𝒏

Much like her last book THE PARIS WIDOW, the setting was so artfully done, I felt like I was physically in Amsterdam. The opening scene immediately engages the reader--Rayna, who has come to Amsterdam for a fresh start, is enjoying her 'morning after' glow courtesy of Xander, her one-night stand. She hears the shower running and decides to join him, but when she walks into the bathroom, she's greeted by an absolute horror show. Xander has been brutally murdered, and Rayna flees in terror.

Once she gets a little distance from the vicious murder, she begins wondering how she slept through it and why she was spared. Everything changes after she finds out that Xander is in the diamond business and works for a renowned family, the Prins. She realizes that not only is she the prime suspect in the murder, but she's also under suspicion of theft as she posted a photo of herself on social media wearing one of his diamond necklaces that is now missing. Even though she deleted the photo, once it's on the Internet, it's there forever, and it begins circulating.

Worried that the killer will think she's in possession of the necklace, Rayna doesn't know where to turn, and when members of the powerful Prins family reach out to her, she questions if their motives are pure.

This was a fast-paced, thrilling inside look at the illicit diamond trade set in the stunning vistas of one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, its history and culture skillfully woven into the prose. Captivating, entertaining, and exciting, THE EXPAIT AFFAIR is set to publish June 3, 2025. Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing for this stunning early copy.

I haven't read many books set in Amsterdam, and I absolutely loved the setting. The author did a great job at being descriptive of the surroundings. The story starts out with quite a bang- Rayna wakes up to find that her date from the night before has been murdered in his shower. The plot has a lot of depth to it and a satisfying amount of twists and turns. The ending was shocking and unexpected. Overall, this is a suspenseful and entertaining thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kimberly Belle is an absolute favorite author of mine. That said, I wasn't thinking I'd be too crazy about The Expat Affair, as it sounded more in the vein of a "heist, action, espionage" type read & I'm more of a domestic suspense reader. BUT I was mistaken. The writing is so wonderful, the characters & twists so on point that I really enjoyed it. It was so, so twisty! Not in an unbelievable way either. I also enjoyed how well researched Amsterdam was, down to even the bike riding. If you've enjoyed a past Kimberly Belle read or haven't but are a fan of suspense, mysteries, strong female protagonists, pick up The Expat Affair & I'm betting you'll enjoy it as much as I did! Four Solid Stars!

"The Expat Affair" was my first Kimberly Belle book and I can say it will not be my last. This was a solid three star read for me with intrigue and suspense from the beginning of the story until the end. You could make yourself sick with all the twists and turns delivered throughout the pages.

Basic premise without giving away anything, the House of Prins is a diamond family and our MC's Willow and Rayna have a somewhat "unhealthy" connection. There are diamond heists, murder, affairs, and so much more.

I loved the Amsterdam setting and the inclusion of the language and mannerism.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kimberly Belle for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and it reminded me of visits to Amsterdam. In this story, the family diamond business comes with so much mystery and intrigue. The author did a great job with exciting twists and turns and making a suspenseful novel.

Rayna, one of the main characters, wakes up to hear a shower running, after a one night stand, and goes into the shower to find Xander dead. He has been viciously murdered. Rayna flees the scene. As she finds out more about the murdered victim, lots of questions come to the surface. Rayna doesn’t know why she was spared and now is the prime suspect in the murder. Xander’s safe was cleaned out of all the diamonds he had and Rayna is afraid the murderer will think she is in possession of a missing diamond necklace.

This thriller explores the illicit diamond trade and is very entertaining. The Prins family, who owns the diamond business, has lots of secrets and because of that they get caught up in the dangerous underworld.

This book kept me well entertained until the very end. Highly recommend it. Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity of early access.

Such a good book. Definitely filled with exciting twists and suspense!

This book was a wild ride… and I loved every minute of it! I was captivated by the descriptions of Amsterdam and intrigued by the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the glamour and excess of the high-end diamond industry. The Prins family was every bit as cutthroat and conniving as you would expect a dynasty desperately clinging to its wealth and legacy to be. With a family like the Prinses, who needs enemies? I loved every facet of this sparkling thriller!