Kimberly Belle returns with another masterfully crafted psychological thriller that transforms Amsterdam’s glamorous diamond industry into a treacherous playground of murder, betrayal, and greed. The Expat Affair weaves together the lives of two American expatriates whose worlds collide in the most devastating way possible—over a dead body and missing millions in diamonds.
Following her acclaimed novels The Paris Widow, Young Rich Widows, and Dear Wife, Belle demonstrates her exceptional ability to craft international settings that feel both exotic and intimately familiar. This latest offering establishes her as a formidable voice in the domestic suspense genre, capable of balancing literary sensibilities with page-turning momentum.
A Tale of Two Women
Rayna Dumont: The Reluctant Witness
Belle’s characterization of Rayna Dumont feels refreshingly authentic—a recently divorced American seeking adventure and reinvention in Amsterdam. Her impulsive one-night stand with Xander van der Vos transforms from liberation to nightmare when she awakens to find him murdered in his shower, millions worth of diamonds vanished from his safe. Rayna’s vulnerability never feels contrived; Belle expertly portrays the disorientation of being an outsider in a foreign country while simultaneously being thrust into a deadly conspiracy.
The author’s personal experience living in Amsterdam shines through in Rayna’s struggles with Dutch bureaucracy, language barriers, and the subtle social hierarchies that define expat life. These authentic details ground the thriller elements in lived reality, making Rayna’s terror palpable as she navigates both cultural confusion and mortal danger.
Willow Prins: The Gilded Prisoner
Perhaps even more compelling is Willow Prins, whose transformation from working-class Southern girl to diamond dynasty wife provides the novel’s emotional core. Belle crafts Willow with remarkable nuance—she’s neither victim nor villain but something far more complex: a woman who has traded authenticity for security, only to discover that her gilded cage may be a trap.
The marriage dynamics between Willow and Thomas feel particularly well-observed. Belle captures the subtle erosions that wealth and social pressure can inflict on relationships, especially when one partner feels perpetually like an outsider performing a role they never quite master.
Amsterdam as Character
Belle’s Amsterdam transcends mere backdrop to become a living, breathing character in its own right. Her descriptions of the city’s canal-lined streets, imposing diamond district buildings, and the contrast between tourist-friendly facades and insider networks create an atmosphere of beautiful menace. The author’s intimate knowledge of the city—evident in everything from navigation details to social customs—adds layers of authenticity that elevate the thriller beyond typical tourist-guide superficiality.
The diamond industry setting proves particularly effective, with Belle exposing the intersection of tradition, technology, and corruption that defines modern Amsterdam’s gem trade. Her exploration of lab-grown versus mined diamonds serves as both plot device and metaphor for the authentic versus artificial tensions running throughout the narrative.
Plot Mechanics and Pacing
Strengths in Structure
In The Expat Affair, Belle employs a dual narrative structure that builds tension methodically while revealing information at precisely calibrated intervals. The alternating perspectives between Rayna and Willow create natural suspense as readers piece together connections before the characters do. This technique particularly excels in the novel’s second act, where both women begin to understand they’re being manipulated by forces far more powerful than they initially realized.
The author’s handling of the missing Cullinan diamonds—historical gems with real significance—adds gravitas to what could have been merely another heist plot. By grounding her fictional theft in the actual history of Amsterdam’s diamond trade, Belle creates stakes that feel both personal and historically significant.
Pacing Considerations
While the novel’s momentum rarely flags, certain exposition-heavy sections in the middle act occasionally slow the thriller’s pulse. Belle’s obvious affection for Amsterdam sometimes leads to descriptive passages that, while beautifully written, temporarily pause the forward drive. Additionally, some plot revelations feel slightly telegraphed, particularly regarding the Prins family’s internal dynamics.
Character Development and Relationships
The Central Partnership
The evolving relationship between Rayna and Willow represents the novel’s greatest achievement. Belle avoids the obvious trap of making them immediate allies, instead allowing suspicion and class differences to create realistic friction. Their eventual partnership feels earned rather than convenient, built on mutual necessity rather than instant connection.
Both women’s character arcs follow satisfying trajectories from isolation to agency. Rayna’s journey from naive tourist to determined survivor parallels Willow’s evolution from passive wife to active participant in her own fate. Belle handles both transformations with restraint, avoiding melodramatic personality reversals in favor of gradual, believable change.
Supporting Cast Dynamics
The Prins family dynamics provide rich material for Belle’s exploration of legacy, loyalty, and corruption. Willem Prins emerges as a particularly effective antagonist—not a cartoon villain but a patriarch whose traditionalist values have curdled into ruthless pragmatism. Thomas and Fleur’s sibling rivalry adds additional layers to the family portrait, with Belle skillfully revealing how inherited privilege can simultaneously empower and corrupt.
Thematic Depths
Beyond its surface thrills, The Expat Affair operates as a sophisticated examination of multiple themes:
Identity and Belonging
Both protagonists struggle with questions of authentic identity versus performed roles. Rayna’s attempt to reinvent herself in Amsterdam mirrors Willow’s ongoing performance as a Prins wife. Belle explores how geographical displacement can either liberate or further isolate individuals seeking to escape their past selves.
Power and Corruption
The novel’s exploration of institutional corruption feels particularly relevant. Belle demonstrates how established power structures—whether family dynasties or law enforcement networks—can manipulate truth and justice to serve their own interests. The diamond industry provides an ideal metaphor for how legitimate businesses can harbor illegitimate practices.
Class and Social Mobility
Willow’s backstory and ongoing insecurities provide a sharp examination of American class anxiety transplanted to European aristocracy. Belle handles these themes with sensitivity, avoiding both condescension toward working-class origins and romanticization of wealth.
Writing Style and Technical Craft
Belle’s prose strikes an effective balance between literary sophistication and commercial accessibility. Her sentences flow smoothly while maintaining the rhythmic tension essential to psychological suspense. The author’s background in both American and Dutch cultural contexts allows her to code-switch naturally between perspectives, giving each character a distinct voice without resorting to stereotype.
Her dialogue feels particularly strong, capturing both the formal politeness of Dutch social interaction and the more direct communication styles of American characters. The multilingual elements add authenticity without becoming burdensome for English-speaking readers.
Areas for Improvement
While The Expat Affair succeeds admirably in most areas, certain elements could benefit from refinement:
- Plot complexity: Some revelations feel unnecessarily convoluted, particularly the final explanation of the Cullinan theft and insurance fraud scheme.
- Coincidence management: Several plot points rely on convenient timing that occasionally strains credibility.
- Resolution pacing: The climactic sequences, while exciting, compress significant character decisions into a relatively brief timeframe.
Comparison to Contemporary Works
Belle’s work invites comparison to other authors exploring similar territory. Like Gillian Flynn, she excels at creating morally complex female characters whose choices resist easy judgment. Her international settings recall Chris Pavone’s expatriate thrillers, while her focus on marriage and family dynamics echoes Liane Moriarty’s domestic suspense.
However, Belle carves out distinctive territory through her combination of international sophistication and Southern gothic sensibilities. Her European settings feel genuinely lived-in rather than researched, while her character psychology demonstrates impressive depth and nuance.
Perfect For Readers Who Enjoyed
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn – for complex female protagonists with hidden depths
- The Doorman by Chris Pavone – for expatriate settings and international intrigue
- Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty – for marriage dynamics and class tensions
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – for reinvention themes
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – for atmospheric international settings
Final Verdict
The Expat Affair represents another solid entry in Belle’s growing canon of sophisticated psychological thrillers. While not quite reaching the heights of The Paris Widow, it demonstrates continued growth in both technical craft and thematic ambition. The novel succeeds particularly well in its character development and atmospheric detail, creating a reading experience that satisfies both as escapist entertainment and literary achievement.
Belle’s obvious affection for Amsterdam and deep understanding of expatriate experiences elevate this thriller beyond genre conventions into something approaching social commentary. Readers seeking intelligent suspense with authentic international flavor will find much to appreciate in this glittering, dangerous exploration of identity, loyalty, and the prices we pay for reinvention.
The novel confirms Belle’s position as one of the more reliable voices in contemporary domestic suspense, capable of delivering both emotional depth and narrative satisfaction. For fans of her previous work, The Expat Affair represents a natural evolution rather than a radical departure—which is precisely what her growing readership will want to hear.
- Recommended for: Fans of international thrillers, psychological suspense, and anyone who has ever wondered what secrets hide behind the glittering facades of Amsterdam’s most prestigious neighborhoods.