Rayna moves to Amsterdam after her divorce and is struggling but determined to make a life as an expat. She gets unknowingly sucked into a diamond fraud with a famous family and suddenly her life is in danger. Willow, who married into the family befriends Reyna, but what is her real story? Moral of the story is don’t get in trouble abroad!

This is a fast-paced thriller with two strong heroines, both expats from the US living in Amsterdam. The author does an excellent job creating an atmospheric backdrop of Amsterdam with the bitter cold and all the bicycle riding around the city. This story takes a fresh look at the diamond industry and something I knew very little about, lab grown diamonds. The story is filled with family dysfunction, follows an uber rich Amsterdam family and has secrets and backstabbing galore. Overall, an engaging, page turning read on a new to me subject matter.

I love all of Kimberley Belle’s books. The Expat Affair is no exception. I love how she puts American women in European locations and dramatic scenarios. The Expat Affair explores the diamond industry, fraud, and corruption. Fun thriller.

The Expat Affair kicks off with a bang—murder, mystery, and a missing fortune in diamonds. I was instantly intrigued by the premise: an American expat in Amsterdam wakes up after a steamy night only to find her lover dead in the next room and millions in jewels gone. Add in a second narrator tied to the same diamond dynasty, and you’ve got all the makings of a sleek, high-stakes thriller. Or so I thought.

What followed, though, didn’t quite match that opening energy. The plot meandered, the tension fizzled, and the characters, while interesting in theory, didn’t fully connect. Rayna’s choices felt oddly naive for someone supposedly street-smart, and the supposed twists were more soft curveballs than jaw-dropping reveals. I kept waiting for the moment that would punch me in the gut or make me gasp—but it never came.

That said, the setting was rich, the writing smooth, and the premise had real potential. Belle does a great job capturing the allure and danger of Amsterdam’s glittering underworld. The diamond lore, while excessive at times, added a unique angle—though it sometimes slowed the pacing. It’s a fine read for a weekend getaway or rainy afternoon, just not the thriller knockout I was hoping for.

Three stars. Stylish and solid, but emotionally underwhelming. Like a beautiful diamond that doesn’t quite catch the light.

The Expat Affair is a glittery, gritty psychological thriller that may be my new favorite novel by Kimberly Belle! Two American expats living in Amsterdam are about to collide in, what seems like, happenstance. When newly divorced and single Rayna arrives in The Netherlands she's leaving behind an explosive breakup with her wealthy ex-husband. She has reinvented herself slightly as Rayna 2.0 and has a one-night stand with the glamorous gemologist Xander, only to find him dead in the shower the next morning, with both diamonds and a finger missing.

A few blocks away, Willow, fellow American expat and wife of Thomas Prins, the heir and CEO of the House of Prins diamond house, hears the news of an unlikely murder in one of the most expensive neighborhoods. She follows the news closely-after all, Xander worked for her husband, millions of dollars of diamonds are gone and the last thing The House of Prins needs is another scandal. Willow and Thomas's marriage is shaky now at best, and with this investigation, it may permanently crack. Why is Willow so concerned with Xander's murder and the missing diamonds? Thomas's family is under intense scrutiny but they wield a lot of power in Amsterdam. Willow, with her own dangerous secrets, decides to find out what Rayna knows, not realizing both of them will end up on the wrong side of the dangerous diamond trade.

Full of scandal, red herrings and glitz, while told from Willow and Rayna's perspective, this fast-paced thriller will keep readers guessing! The setting, Amsterdam, almost serves as another character and the detail of the city and culture is captured so well, 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for this ARC!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story that melded two different lives into one dangerous crime! It was very hard to put down. The main characters were so fun to watch develop. Definitely add to your TBR.

The Expat Affair is classic Kimberly Belle—fast-paced, twisty, and impossible to put down. From the first page to the last, the story races forward, making it a compulsive read for fans of domestic thrillers.

The novel centers on Rayna Dumont, a woman determined to reinvent herself as “Rayna 2.0”—someone bolder, braver, and willing to take more risks. But her quest for a more daring life takes a dangerous turn after a one-night encounter with the mysterious Xander. What begins as a moment of passion quickly spirals into something much more sinister.

The narrative alternates between Rayna and Willow Prins, the elegant wife of one of the world's richest diamond dealers. As the plot unfolds, the connection between these two women becomes a central mystery, full of suspense and shocking reveals.

Belle does a fantastic job of weaving tension throughout the book, using both women's perspectives to build intrigue. It’s a gripping exploration of identity, deception, and how far people are willing to go to protect their secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early release ebook. Fans of Kimberly Belle will not be disappointed—and newcomers to her work will quickly see why she’s a must-read in the thriller genre.

Kimberly Belle's books seem to be a hit or miss for me. This one was unfortunately a miss. It just moved far too slow for me.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

I just finished reading "The Expat Affair" by Kimberly Belle. Many thanks to NetGalley and Park Row for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was filled with twists and turns. Set in the world of high priced diamonds, a murder is commiteed and it throws the life of many people into turmoil and a search for answers. There is the main characters, one the wife of a diamond dealer, the other the women who slept with the man who was killed. We meet the family Prinz, who are the diamond dealers which are filled with shady characters who don't reveal themselves until close to the end of the book. Both female leads are expats...hence the title.
There was a lot of information about the world of diamonds, which may or may not interest the reader. And there were ALOT of twists and turns. Everything was revealed slowly and for maximum impact.
I did appreciate some of the twists and turns as I didn't expect them and they were surprising. I love surprises. I also appreciated that some of the characters that I thought were shady were decent. I can;t divulge more than than. I liked that the story is set in Amsterdam. Thay added an extra layer of mystery.
I didn't like all the characters. There were almost too many and it was hard to keep track of them all. I also wasn't to interested in all the talk about diamonds. It was almost too much.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I read it slowly over a number of days and was satisfied with the end..except for Rayna? What happened to Rayna. She was...in my opinion...the best part of the story.
Happy Reading
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Rayna has had a rough go. She left Louisiana because her husband cheated on her with her best friend. She ends up in Amsterdam and goes out on a date with a hot rich guy. Unfortunately she woke up to find he had been murdered and tons of diamonds stolen. She becomes wrapped up in a big mess, legally and with those who want the diamonds. A wild ride!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. I am a huge fan of this author and this book didn’t disappoint. I was reeled right in and it continued to be fast faced. Can’t wait to see what she writes next.

I found the book to be a little slow and repetitive, but it was entertaining enough to keep me listening. Sadly, it just didn’t work for me.

Biggest flaw: The over usage of the word “beige” drove me nuts. Lol.

3.75 stars.

Read well, flowed well, very descriptive of Amsterdam setting, and I learned a lot about diamonds ( I had never heard about lab-grown diamonds).

The dual POV worked well. I had trouble really engaging with the characters but it was a light popcorn read that generally kept my interest. Had a great intense starting chapter!

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you HTP Audio for the ALC and HTP / Netgalley, #partner, for the advanced e-copy of The Expat Affair in exchange for my honest review.

Kimberly Belle has become a favorite for addicting, thrilling reads. She always manages to deliver pulse-pounding, edge-of-your seat reads that are completely binge-worthy and full of suspense and this latest one is no different!

International thrillers just hit a little differently…and this one was a winner from start to finish! A dead body in the bed next to you, two completely engaging POVs and stolen jewels – yes, please! Oh, and set it all in Amsterdam…how could I not love it? This book kept me guessing and hanging on with bated breath as I tried to figure out where it all was headed and I loved every second of it. I’m not sure how the author manages to create such unique, compelling reads every single time, but she does and she does it well.

I loved that the two main characters, Rayna and Willow, are so different from each other, yet I found myself equally invested in their stories. It would be easy to dislike them one or both of them, yet as the story progresses, I found it hard to not care for them and the predicaments they were in. I also loved the deep dive into the diamond industry, something I haven’t come across very often in books before. It was quite a fascinating study in this field, showing that you can learn a bit in thrillers!

This was such an addictive, binge-worthy read that is both highly entertaining yet informative as well. I love this author’s work and can now add another book to my list that I will be recommending.

This novel takes a deep dive into the world of diamonds in Amsterdam. While the book had some interesting twists, this was not my favorite of Kimberly Belle's books. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Rayna, a recent divorcee who finds her one-night stand murdered and Willow, whose husband belongs to a prominent family in the diamond trade. The best part of this novel is how these two women support each other to try and find out the truth behind the murder and the missing diamonds.

Enjoyable read set in Amsterdam. Two American women, one who wakes up to find her Tinder date murdered in the shower. The other one is married to a Prins, the biggest diamond family in the Netherlands. As the story unfolds, their paths cross and they decide to team up.
A good whodunnit where not everyone is as innocent as they seem and lots of twists and action.

This one was a wild ride; from steamy fling to murder mystery real quick. I loved the Amsterdam setting and the whole diamond-industry-meets-glamour-and-danger vibe. Rayna stumbling into this mess made for a super bingeable read, and the back-and-forth with Willow added some juicy drama. It gave off big “rich people secrets” energy with a twisty plot that kept me guessing. Perfect if you're into fast-paced thrillers.

The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle is an excellent domestic thriller.

I could not put this book down. The thrills were exciting.

And the twists, OMG , so good!

“Following a nasty divorce, Rayna Dumont came to Amsterdam for a fresh start. She's never been the type for a one-night stand, but this move is all about adventure, and Xander is handsome and successful and more than willing to go along for the ride. Until the morning after, when Rayna finds him dead on the shower floor and millions of dollars' worth of diamonds missing from his safe.

From her lavish home in the heart of the city, Willow Prins is captivated by the news. Her husband is Xander's former boss and heir to a diamond house, and the scandal strains their already-rocky marriage. As the house comes under scrutiny, Willow wonders if her life is about to implode-and how much of the blame she can place on Rayna. Soon, Willow and Rayna are dragged into the dark and dangerous underbelly of the diamond market, where they'll have to uncover the truth to survive. Who killed Xander? Where are the missing diamonds? And who can you trust in a strange and unfamiliar city thousands of miles from home?”


I enjoyed Kimberly Belle’s previous books. But this book was not for me. It started off great. I was intrigued. But then it went downhill fast. I don’t think the diamonds/stones/every other word they used for them, story was not really for me. It felt very repetitive, and I almost DNF’d. The cover attracted me to the book immediately, the synopsis not so much, maybe I should have stopped there.


Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a DRC. The Expat Affair is available now.

This Diamond trade mystery starts off with a murder while one of the narrators is passed out in bed. Told in alternating chapters between the passed out Reyna and the wife of Thomas Prins of Prins diamonds, Willow. There is potential here, but the story became convoluted I considered not finishing. I kept reading and it came to a head at the end where everything fell somewhat out of place. There is a lot of information about lab produced vs mined diamonds. Those parts were interesting and pulled up the rating for me. Not bad just confusing.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley