I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle plunges readers into the glittering yet perilous world of Amsterdam’s diamond trade, where wealth and power hide a web of deceit, betrayal, and murder.
They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but for Rayna Dumont, they bring nothing but trouble. Fresh from a rough divorce, she arrives in Amsterdam looking for a fresh start. One wild night with a stranger end in murder, missing diamonds, and Rayna caught in a scandal way over her head.
Then there’s Willow Prins. On the surface, she has it all—wealth, status, the perfect life—but cracks are showing. Her husband was the boss of the guy Rayna found dead, and their already shaky marriage starts falling apart. Willow watches the scandal unfold but she’s no innocent bystander. She’s smart, suspicious, and definitely hiding something.
What really hooked me was how Rayna and Willow’s lives end up tangled together. They couldn’t be more different—one’s starting over, the other’s trying to hold on to a crumbling life—but they’re both caught up in the same deadly mess. Neither really trusts the other, but they have no choice if they want to get to the truth.
The pacing was just right. Fast enough to keep me hooked but slow enough to take in Amsterdam’s flashy yet dangerous diamond scene. The tension stays high, with plenty of glamour hiding some serious dark secrets. The author makes the city feel real and full of mystery.
The story grabbed me and kept me guessing, and I really liked the way the author showed both the glamour and the danger of Amsterdam’s diamond world. The characters felt real, and the setting was fresh and interesting. There were a few spots where I wished for a little more detail, but if you like suspense with a strong sense of place, this one’s definitely worth checking out.
Jennifer Jill Araya and Marni Penning did a great job narrating The Expat Affair. They gave the characters distinct voices and captured the emotion without overdoing it, which really brought the story to life.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading