3.5/5 stars, rounded up

Thank you Park Row Books for the advanced reading copy!

I read a ton of Kimberly Belle back when I started getting back into reading post-grad school, and I was so excited to pick up one of her books after a little hiatus! This one started out soooo strong and, while it lost a little bit of steam in the middle, picked right back up towards the end. I really enjoyed the dual POV, especially as time went on. It's always fun when two characters are connected but you're not sure exactly how, and that was well executed in this book.

The diamond plot was unique and fun, adding a dynamic to this book that I haven't really seen before. This being a unique plot did make me a bit confused at times with "diamond jargon," but overall I think this was well-written enough to make sense throughout There were some solid twists, but some that were predictable. I'd say that the twists were overall lackluster, which is what stops me from rating this book higher.

Overall, this was an entertaining mystery with some bursts of action, but overall more slow-burn. Not sure how memorable this one will be long term, but I enjoyed it while reading!

Like every Kimberly Belle book, this one did not disappoint. The story had me hooked right from the beginning. I like that you can tell the author has experience with the location and culture. The characters are relatable and I found myself fully invested in the story. The ending tied things up nicely. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I usually enjoy Kimberly Belle's books and this was a good one! It was fast paced and action packed from start to finish. It kept my attention throughout and I really liked the way it all came together at the end. I recommend checking this one out, especially if you're already a fan of the author.

Thrown into a world of diamonds and murder, we follow Willow and Rayna as they try to unravel it all.

As always Kimberley Belle knows how to weave a compelling story that keeps you invested until the last page. Even though I had a sneaky suspicion of who was behind it all, they were still solid twists and I enjoyed watching them play out.

This was my third by Kimberly Belle and a great reminder that I need to move her backlist up my TBR ASAP!

Read if you love:
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family drama
👥 Dual POV
💍 Diamonds

Thank you Park Row and Netgalley for my audio and eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love when an author can still come up with fresh and exciting premises after several books, and K. Belle manages to do this time and time again. In this story, two women are connected to the murder of Xander, so you get two POVs and I was equally invested in both. The Amsterdam setting was a nice change from my usual reads, and the storyline revolving around the diamond market brought an interesting perspective and added excitement. The plot itself was pretty twisty, some twists were predictable, while others were fun surprises. Grab this if you’re looking for a fast paced and addictive thriller with an exciting plot.

This story has so many twists and turns and the characters really surprised me! Don’t believe anything! Trust no one! Watch your back on this one! A thrilling ride for sure!

What a wild ride! This book started off dramatically and did not let up; it as so fun and hard to put down. I love both POVs equally and it was interesting how the story kind of came together from two ends that met in the middle with the most shocking reveals. The writing was so good, I felt emotional for Willow as a mom who would do anything for her son, and my heart pounded for Rayna thrown into danger. I love how I was semi-confused the entire time, but so fascinated with the diamond business (especially the lab grown space). The ending was so well executed for shock and awe and a bit of cheering down to the very last page.

This book starts off at 100 miles and hour and never lets up! The pace is fast and engaging so this feels like a quick read. I loved the setting of Amsterdam and the diamond industry plot point. There is also murder, secrets, and strong female characters included. The dual perspectives of Rayna and Willow really worked for me because each character was well-rounded on their own. I flew through the pages to find out what happened to the ill-fated one night stand and the missing diamonds. I really enjoyed this book and I think it will make a perfect immersive summer read. Thanks to Kimberly Belle, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was fortunate to receive early access to The Expat Affair through NetGalley and I was glad that I did! Kimberly Belle has created an immersive experience for the reader that draws us into the vibrant city of Amsterdam and the seemingly unrelated lives of two strangers. However, there is more to these two women, and their connection is later brought to light as more and more layers of the story are revealed. Willow is a member of a wealthy family of Dutch diamond purveyors, who is trying to raise her hearing-impaired son and survive being a member of the demanding and cold Prins family. Rayna is starting over in Amsterdam and had a one-night stand with a handsome man, who ends up dead in the shower the following morning. He was brutally murdered and Rayna flees in fear for her life. Eventually, the two women find themselves on a collision course of lies, murder, and diamonds that comes to an exciting conclusion.

Thank you @parkrowbooks #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

Whew — this one kicked off with a bang… literally. Dead body in a hotel room right from the start? Say less, I’m in. It immediately gave me The Killing Room by Robert Swartwood vibes (which I devoured, by the way), so I was extra excited to dive into this.

And seriously — someone being murdered in the same hotel room while you sleep? How does that even happen?! It’s sketchy as hell for our main character Rayna, and to make matters worse, she basically posted her own alibi (or lack thereof) for the world to see on Instagram that night. EEK. Talk about a bad look.

From there, this book was a stressful, high-stakes ride packed with stolen diamonds, shady characters, and a desperate race to get answers and survive. It felt like part heist, part mystery, with a whole lotta suspense thrown in for good measure. Fast-paced, twisty, and super entertaining.

If you love a thriller with that oh no, what now?! vibe, this one’s for you. Definitely a fun, edge-of-your-seat read.

I may be biased because Kimberly Belle is an auto-read author for me, but ‘The Expat Affair’ is a fast-paced and bingeable thriller that simply was loads of fun to read. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Amsterdam, the international setting adds a unique flavor to the story, immersing readers in both the charm and shadows of the city (Belle lives in Amsterdam part-time and you can tell how familiar she is with the city).

One of the most fascinating aspects of the novel is its deep dive into the diamond industry - a world filled with secrets, luxury, and deception (at least in the book, but I admit it’s an industry I’m very curious about!) Belle does a fantastic job weaving this lesser-known world into the narrative, making it both educational and suspenseful.

As usual, the ending kept me guessing, which I always appreciate since my mind is usually one of those red-string murd3r boards. Overall, ‘The Expat Affair’ is a gripping, smart thriller and a perfect summer read: twisty, entertaining, and impossible to put down.

A gripping murder mystery set against the backdrop of expatriate life. Belle weaves a tale of female friendships, motherhood, and secrets.

💎 T H R I L L I N G T U E S D A Y review 💎 featuring “The Expat Affair” by Kimberly Belle!

Rayna Dumont has fled to Amsterdam for a fresh start after going through a brutal divorce. Her husband and best friend were having a shocking affair during their marriage and now Rayna is on the hunt for some carefree fun of her own!

So a one night stand with a handsome gemologist (Xander) can’t be too risky can it?? Until the morning after when Rayna finds Xander dead in the shower and millions of dollars worth of diamonds have gone missing from his safe! Rayna has no idea what she has gotten herself into as she becomes a target in the dangerous underground world of the Diamond market. Who killed Xander and where did all the diamonds go?? And who can Rayna trust in a city where she has no one??

Anytime a book by @kimberlybellebooks gets brought to my attention, I jump on it right away! Her writing style is fast paced and gripping, full of shocking twists and turns and she sure knows how to sucker punch you with her endings!

Thank you kindly to @kimberlybellebooks @parkrowbooks @harpercollinsca @netgalley for my #gifted advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on June 3, 2025!

I really enjoyed reading “The Expat Affair” by Kimberly Belle and trying to figure out the clues alongside Rayna and Willow. I thought I had it all figured out at the beginning, but I was wrong—though I was definitely on the right track! I will definitely be reading more of Kimberly Belle’s novels.

This was my very first read from this author and it was definitely enjoyable!! It is a twisty, heart-racing and unputdownable book!! I love how fast paced it was, leaving me wanting more after each turn of the page and all the characters you love to hate, were perfect!! This one is a must add to your TBR! You will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion!!

If you hand me a thriller and set it in a city like Amsterdam, I’m in. But make it about stolen diamonds, scandalous affairs, and two women caught in a web of secrets? I’m obsessed.
There’s something about international thrillers that just hits different and this one had it all, murder, glittering diamonds, lies, and two women unraveling secrets that could shatter everything. I was completely hooked on Rayna and Willow’s alternating perspectives and loved how their stories tangled together in unexpected ways..
If you’re into twisty domestic thrillers with an unforgettable setting and fats paced suspense, this one’s for you. 💎

This one really started off with a bang. A lot of excitement in the beginning, which tapered off while you go to know the characters. It picked up again once you did. I really liked the diamonds plot. I am a huge fan of diamonds so it was fun to read about.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley- thank you.

This was an interesting premise, but it fell flat for me. It was really slow at times, and I had a hard time getting into it. I wasn't that impressed with the ending and the reveal. It was a decent thriller but not very memorable.

Thank you so much for the arc of the book. I love every book Kimberly Belle writes. Rayna wakes up to find Xander her one night stand dead and millions of diamonds missing from his safe. Then there is WIllow the wife of Xander`s boss who runs a diamond business who thinks Rayna might be in danger. There is lots of secrets and scandal throughout the book. I liked that we got both POVs which helped build compelling stories and tension. This a fast paced twisty book that you for sure will want to read.

In The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle, Rayna Dumont heads to Amsterdam for a fresh start after a tough divorce—and a one-night stand with charming, successful Xander seems like the perfect way to kick things off. But when she finds him dead the next morning and his diamonds gone, things spiral fast. Across the city, Willow Prins watches the scandal unfold, with Xander’s death threatening to crack her already fragile marriage to the heir of a diamond empire. Soon, Willow and Rayna are pulled into Amsterdam’s dark diamond underworld, where uncovering the truth is their only chance at survival. I absolutely loved this book—the suspense was nonstop from the wild opening scene to the explosive ending. Amsterdam made for such a stunning and atmospheric backdrop. The twists had me hooked and I was not expecting them throughout! I really enjoyed how the story flipped between Rayna and Willow’s perspectives. The audio was fantastic too—the narrator brought everything to life so well! I totally recommend going the audiobook route with this one. Thank you to HTP The Hive, Park Row and the author for both an ARC and ALC of this book for a review!