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.

Note: The audiobook narration was perfect. The way it elevated my heartrate and I felt like I had to pace and look over my shoulder while reading was so well done!

A gripping murder mystery set against the backdrop of expatriate life. Belle weaves a tale of female friendships, motherhood, and secrets. The audiobook narration enhances the suspenseful atmosphere.

Two American women, one, the wife of a diamond baron, the other happily single, both living as expats in Amsterdam. Both have their worlds thrown into chaos after a murder occurs and their lives become intertwined. The cutthroat world of diamonds, both real and manufactured, take center stage. This one was good enough, but not Kimberly Belle 's best. I kind of got lost in all of the diamond world details. It is fast-paced, twisty and suspenseful but I wasn't really hooked by the characters or the plot. However, it is highly listenable, the narrators did a great job and the story kept me listening through to the end. It will appeal to a wide array of readers.

Thank you to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Park Row and Kimberly Belle for the audio ARC

This is my first book from Kimberly Belle. It was a good listen. Kept me wanting to know more. It was very elaborate on the diamond/lab grown business. Which I found it interesting but also it dragged too long at a certain parts. I also loved how she wrote about Willow’s husband and knowing it wasn’t a real marriage but still putting a front into front of her in laws. It just shows how sometimes dysfunctional families can happen even when you are rich. And also relatable about how rich can have affairs. My heart hurts for Willow at times from her Husband’s actions.

I love how Kimberly wrote this with Amsterdam as the location. A lot of times when. I read about Amsterdam as a location it’s back in time, but this wasn’t. It was so relatable and modern. Wrote things like X and Tinder. I got hooked after the second chapter when she found Xander’s body. This book made me think of Amanda Knox in a way.

I didn’t know how this book would end. I had so many suspicions but I was surprised on how this ended!

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!

I was completely drawn into this story, especially the way it moves between timelines. It didn’t just build suspense—it made the whole experience more immersive. I found myself constantly trying to connect the dots, and I loved that feeling of slow discovery.

The narrator was excellent. Each character felt distinct and real, and I was pulled into their world effortlessly. The mystery around the expat who ends up dead after a one-night stand had me hooked. A lot of people had reasons to want him gone, and that tension kept building as the story unfolded.

What really worked was how the truth unraveled through the people he used to work for. Their lives, their secrets—everything started coming into focus, piece by piece.

There were definitely moments where things got confusing, but strangely, that added to the story’s impact. The ending pulled it all together in a way that made the chaos feel intentional. A strong, layered conclusion to a messy, compelling mystery.

4 diamond stars

My favorite part of this fast-paced thriller was the Amsterdam setting. I haven’t been there, but I really want to visit!

Expertly voiced by Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning, I was immediately in the world of an elite Amsterdam diamond family and two American expats.

With a powerhouse opening involving Rayna, a recent divorcee trying out online dating in Amsterdam. She has a fantastic night with Xander, a gorgeous gemologist who works for the House of Prins. The nightmare starts the next morning, though, when she discovers him murdered in the shower and all the diamonds are missing. And what was she thinking with that revealing social media post?

The other expat is Willow Prins, from a small Southern town, she’s now part of the wealthy Prins family. She’s married to Thomas, and they have an adorable son, Sem. (Shoutout to a character with hearing loss!) They live in a gorgeous house in Amsterdam, but things are not rosy with their marriage.

As Rayna is embroiled with the police and the case with Xander, being followed and hounded by the press, she’s terrified that she’s in the killer’s crosshairs. As everyone in Amsterdam seems to be searching for the diamonds, the two women cross paths. Can they trust each other as fellow Americans?

The tension mounts and builds to a powerhouse ending that I did not predict. I could see this one made into a movie. It was also interesting to learn more about the dynamics with lab-grown diamonds.

The Expat Affair is a must-read psychological thriller, brimming with romantic suspense and international intrigue. I was hooked from page one!

Set against the sultry, shadowy backdrop of Amsterdam’s elite diamond world, this novel is part murder mystery, part character study—and 100% addictive. With razor-sharp pacing and two unforgettable female leads locked in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, Belle delivers a story as steeped in glamour and prestige as it is danger and deception.

After reading The Paris Widow, I jumped for joy when I received The Expat Affair on Audiobook. The story kept me listening for hours, and I absolutely loved the narrator! She captured the characters so perfectly. If you are into travel, heists, affairs, and lifestyles of the insanely rich, this one is for you!

You know that feeling when a book opens with a dead body, a mysterious stranger, and the faint promise of European scandal, and you’re already texting your group chat “this is gonna slap,” only for the vibes to flatline by chapter three? That was me with “The Expat Affair.” I signed up for backstabbing, betrayal, and bougie secrets in a city full of canals and questionable morals. What I got was diamond trivia, two women narrating their stress like it’s a lifestyle brand, and suspense so quiet it might’ve been on mute.

Rayna is newly divorced and in Amsterdam chasing assignments as a freelance travel writer, which is less “luxury getaway” and more “please let this piece pay rent.” After matching with a handsome stranger (who, surprise, turns out to be loaded loaded), she wakes up to find the man she’s been hooking up with murdered in the next room and several million dollars’ worth of diamonds missing from his safe. Which is frankly an iconic way to start a book. But after that killer opening? We kinda just… wander.

Then there’s Willow Prins. While the world treats her like a trophy wife covered in diamonds, she brings warmth, action, and emotional depth to a story that desperately needed it. She’s grounded, protective, and aware in a way no one around her gives her credit for. She’s also the only person in this book who behaves like she knows she’s in a thriller. She follows leads, makes tough calls, and never once waits around for someone else to rescue her. That said, I did raise an eyebrow at some of her decisions.

I didn’t dislike any of these characters. They just didn’t move me. Rayna is trying to rebuild her life, and there’s potential there, but for someone who writes about travel, she seems remarkably naive. She blows past multiple obvious red flags, including people putting literal tracking devices on her more than once, and still doesn’t seem to grasp the danger she’s in. She’s stuck in her own head while the plot moves around her. Pacing, fretting, making questionable choices, and acting surprised every time the chaos catches up to her.

What did keep me invested? The audiobook. God bless Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning, because they brought nuance, heat, and a pulse to scenes that, on the page, felt like background noise in a stylish cafe. Araya gives Rayna layers. Penning makes Willow feel alive. Not just warm, but wired with quiet grief and determination. If you’re picking this one up, go audio. It’s the best version of this story, hands down.

Final twist? Meh. It had the bones of a good reveal, but the delivery was too clean. Too neat. Like it had been polished to a high gleam and left out under museum lighting. I kept waiting for that last gasp, that emotional haymaker, but instead it landed like a soft shrug. A “well, that’s over” instead of a “holy hell, that’s what was happening?” moment. After all the setup, I wanted a face-punch.

Three stars. Not mad. Just emotionally underwhelmed. This book promised betrayal in designer heels and delivered a jewelry website with mild intrigue. It’s a decent vacation read. Just not one I’ll be writing home about.

Whodunity Award: For Waking Up Next to a Body, Missing Diamonds, and Ignoring Every Red Flag

Huge thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook — their narrators took soft suspense and sharpened it just enough to keep me hooked.

Kimberly Belle delivers another twisty, binge-worthy thriller! 🔥 I was hooked from page one. The Amsterdam setting was stunning and fresh, and the diamond world backdrop added such a sleek, high-stakes vibe. Belle really knows how to keep you guessing.
🎧 The audiobook was 🔥—Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning nailed the dual POVs, bringing both Rayna and Willow to life with so much depth and emotion. Totally immersive!
💫 Fast-paced, glamorous, and full of tension—this is a summer thriller you won’t want to miss.

Two American women who are living in Amsterdam have their worlds thrown into chaos after a murder occurs and their lives become intertwined. The cutthroat world of diamonds, both real and manufactured, take center stage. I love Kimberly Belle but this wasn't my favorite. It is fast-paced, twisty and suspenseful but I just wasn't hooked by the characters or the plot. This will appeal to a wide array of readers, but the whole jewelry aspect did not interest me. I liked that two different women were narrating. It was much easier to keep the story straight since both were primary characters.

The one night stand gone wrong start to this novel was an immediate hook. The like-able main character Rayna has you hoping she doesn't get tangled up in the web that the murdered Xander has left. The alternative perspective of Willow Prins gives us the inside scoop on the Xander, his diamond dealings, and the potential for deceit. Her marriage to the very, very wealthy Prins heir puts her in the position to help Rayna, but she has her own secrets as well as her son to protect.
This story was really fast paced. I found it difficult to put down as there were just enough characters to keep the mystery interesting and the topic of the diamond trade was unique and expensive. There was a sense of danger at every turn and I really wasn't sure which characters you could trust. (Turns out- not many of them as they ALL had a secret. )

Readers of Freida McFadden and Alice Feeney will enjoy this thriller?mystery.
Topics: diamonds, family, deceit, parents devotion, secrets, murder, betrayal
Recommended: adult or advanced high school
#netgallery, #expataffair

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the gifted ALC!

I went back and forth between listening and physically reading this and it was very enjoyable for this one. I have absolutely loved the pacing of Belle's previous novels and this was no exception.

There was definitely some questionable behavior by a few of the characters but it was without question authentic and realistic. Without giving too much away, my heart broke for a couple characters at the end.

Suffice to say, if you've enjoyed Belle's previous books, you'll likely be into this one as well!

The Expat Affair pub date is June 3.

This was such an enjoyable listen! The narrators delivered a phenomenal performance—full of energy and personality—which kept me fully engaged from start to finish. Their enthusiasm truly brought the story to life. Kimberly Belle is a new-to-me author, and I absolutely loved her writing style. Despite the many twists and turns, I never felt lost. The plot was easy to follow, yet full of suspense. I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone looking for a gripping and well-narrated thriller.

It's not often expats are the centre of a story so when I read this title, I knew I had to get this book (expat of almost 15 years here!). I'm so glad I did because this unique set thriller centred around the diamond industry was one of a kind. I enjoyed both Rayna and Willow's POV's in this story as we came to know how the diamonds went missing and who killed Xander. The audiobook was expertly narrated, bringing the story to life.

Amsterdam is the exciting backdrop for the newest thriller from Kimberly Belle.

Rayna Dumont is an expat who has come to Amsterdam to start over after being recently divorced. Determined to find adventure, she spends the night with a man she just met. The next morning she’s taking selfies in the super chic hotel room to post on her socials while Xander is in the shower. But when she attempts to join him she finds him DEAD! The police discover that not only has Xander been murdered; there are precious diamonds missing from his hotel safe. Rayna becomes a main suspect in this heinous crime. Her future is uncertain as an American living in a foreign country.

Tomas happens to be Xander’s now former boss as the heir to an esteemed Diamond House. Tomas is being secretive and not spending much time at home so his wife, Willow, is forced to follow Xander’s murder closely. She fears for her own life and her young son’s safety and future welfare.

Having everything to lose, Willow and Rayna will join forces to find answers in the dark and dangerous world of diamond dealing. Who killed Xander and where are the missing diamonds? And more importantly, who can be trusted?

The audio narration was fantastic performed by Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning. They did an amazing job with the cast of characters and accents.

Thank you Netgalley, HarlequinAudio, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on June 3, 2025

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for feedback.
The Expat Affair is about an American who moves to Amsterdam for a fresh start after a divorce.. She goes wild one night after "swing right" and has a one-night stand with a handsome match. She definitely gets more than she bargained for when she wakes up to the man dead in the shower.
As the mystery unfolds, she meets Willow, married to the Prins diamond empire join forces to solve the mystery of the missing diamonds and the murdered man in the shower.
Kimberly Belle is a go-to author for me, always keeps the suspense alive with a hint of romance and international intrigue. Another winner for the Killer Author Club author. I also liked the cultural aspect of the Amsterdam setting.
The narrator of the audio also great, loved listening to her voice and narration.

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

The dreamy Amsterdam setting, the mysterious Tinder date, and then the dead body had me hooked from the start. Told in dual POV, and narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning, we follow two expat women caught in very different but intertwined lives.

The pacing slowed down quite a bit, which I don’t usually mind since I love a slow-burn thriller, but paired with all the diamond talk, it lost me a little. That said, the audiobook narration was excellent and kept me engaged.

This wasn’t my favorite Kimberly Belle thriller, but I’m still a fan and will definitely keep reading her work. I think this was more of a personal mismatch than anything else, and I’m sure others will enjoy it more than I did. If you like slow-burn international thrillers with layered characters, it’s worth a try.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Expat Affair, and while the premise immediately intrigued me—a mysterious death, missing diamonds, and the underbelly of Amsterdam’s glamorous diamond industry—the story didn’t fully deliver on its potential.

The narration by Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning was solid overall. Each brought a clear voice to the dual perspectives of Rayna and Willow. I appreciated the distinction in tone and pacing between the characters, which helped keep the storyline anchored as it shifted between them. That said, there were moments where the dialogue felt a bit stiff or overly dramatized, which occasionally pulled me out of the immersion.

Plot-wise, the book starts strong. The hook is there: Rayna’s fresh start post-divorce, a steamy night gone terribly wrong, and the sudden appearance of millions in missing diamonds. But as the mystery unfolds, the pacing becomes inconsistent. Some plot threads are drawn out longer than necessary, while others—particularly the resolution—feel rushed and a bit convenient. I found myself wanting more depth from the supporting characters and more emotional stakes, especially in the relationship dynamics between Willow and her husband.

This is definitely a book for fans of glamorous suspense and international intrigue, and while I didn’t find it especially memorable, it was a decent listen for a weekend when I wanted something twisty but not too heavy. A few well-placed reveals kept me engaged, but I wouldn’t say I was ever truly on the edge of my seat.