Cunning Eian

The Turris #1

by Hinsel Meyer

Secrets, love, and power are a dangerous combination.

Colby
Being a mob informant is not a career I dreamed of but it found me anyway. I’m straddling a thin line here, not fully committing to a criminal life, but also not an upstanding citizen the way I used to be.
One stupid decision after the other and my annoying need to know everything lands me in the worst possible situation, but even then, I realize that being a freelancer for the Irish Mob isn’t the worst idea I’ve ever had.
No, the worst is trying to bargain with “the boss” about my value to his organization. But the truth is that Eian Dempsey needs my skills to help protect this city from the worst kind of monsters, and I have to make sure he understands that no matter how much he hates it.
And okay, I could blame that stupid decision on many things—being laid out in the hospital, near-death experience, coming face-to-face the scariest guy in this city—but the truth is more humiliating.
The freaking lust spell he puts on me the moment we meet is inconvenient at best, and deadly at worst.

Eian
Just like my father, I’ve made it my life’s mission to be the monster other monsters fear—that and protecting my family are the only things that have ever mattered to me.
Until Colby.
I’m rarely impressed by anything, but seeing how hard he fights to live changes something in me. Then, even when he’s trembling with fear in front of me, he holds my gaze, he argues with me, tells me I need him to take down an organization of the worst kind of humans plaguing my city, and fuck me, he’s right.
Even while we’re dealing with that, I can’t ignore the effect he has on my body and my heart.
If being nosy as fuck were an Olympic sport, he’d win all the medals, but keeping secrets is pretty much the first job my father trained me for, and I can’t reveal anything until I know he’ll keep my secrets
I can’t know if he’ll ever feel for me what I feel for him—it’s all-consuming and frankly, annoying as fuck.

But I’m damned if I won’t do my best to bring him down with me.

Cunning Eian is book #1 in The Turris series and a spin off from the Fan Service series and the All It Takes series, but you don’t need to have read them to enjoy this series. The love story between Eian and Colby ends with an HEA but the suspense plot will continue in the next book.

Genres: Suspense

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2026

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I definitely liked getting to know more about Eian and the Turris after it was mentioned so long ago in the Fan Service series, but there was more repetition throughout the book than I usually like which did start to bother me.

I liked Eian and Colby as individual characters, but they're all in pretty much immediately and there's not really much getting to know each other, which means that the reader only gets to know what comes up in relation to the Mafia / trafficking plot line.

The family element to the story was my favourite part. I liked getting to know Rory and Duffy and figuring out the family tree and how Bran fits in. I also liked seeing Harrison and his family again!

This was definitely a good way to establish the new series and get all of the explanations out of the way (hopefully anyway because they kept being repeated and I'll be so put off if that happens again in book 2). I'm looking forward to Eli's book though because that's been being teased since the All It Takes series, so I'm ready to see how it plays out now.

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
Start of a new series from Hinsel Meyer and I genuinely liked it. It's surely different from her previous stories, it's darker and it involves heavier themes, but there's still a lot of love and she's very good at writing about it.

We've already met Eian in his cousin's Harrison book (This Is On You): the two of them, like their parents before, work very hard to keep their kinship a secret. Only a handful of people know about that and they're not planning on revealing it any time soon. The reason is that they belong to two very different world: Harrison is a billionaire and has properties all over New York, while Eian is the head of the Irish mafia.

Things start to change when Eian finds himself in charge of rescuing a man he doesn't know but who was working for his close friend: as soon as Eian meets Colby, he's totally captivated by him and feels the strong need to protect him.

Colby is a former journalist and he has an infant daughter who's his whole world. He's smart, brave and a little noisy and he can't believe a man like Eian could be interested in him.

The development of their relationship is pretty fast, but I believe it's pretty normal in Eian's world, where a man's life can change in a heartbeat.

I adored their intimate moment together and, at the same time, I was very much enthralled by the suspenseful part. I needed to know how things would have been resolved.

It was so good to see old characters again, like Harrison's family and I hope we'll see them all again in the future book.

Definitely recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.

[Julie Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cunning Eian by Hinsel Meyer is the first book in her The Turris series. It is a story of the Irish Mafia in NYC and has some dark tones to it but also some good things in that they protect the innocent and go after those that hurt them. Colby Major was an investigative reporter who was extremely nosy and wouldn’t let things go, digging as deep as he could. This led him to find out something big but when he told his boss about it, he was fired and then blackballed so he had to figure out what to do. He had recently adopted an 8 month old baby girl, Maggie, who was his everything and he would do anything for her. When he was out getting groceries on a rainy night, he saw someone shoot another person and dropped everything and ran into his building. Two weeks later groceries and a text for a favor shows up and he starts being a lookout for someone late at night who pays him well and he thinks he’s a hitman for the mob, either Irish or Italian, but doesn’t know for sure. When he doesn’t get another call for 3 weeks he’s worried about his benefactor and being the nosy person he is he starts scouting the locations where he was last working to see if he can find him. That gets him in trouble with the Italian mob who start beating him. Duffy was the man who hired him, and he and his sister Rory were saved from severe abuse by Eian Dempsey, the head of the Irish Mafia and are like a brother and sister to him and are part of his family and will do anything he says. Duffy had been hurt and when he woke up told Eian to check on Colby because he’s an innocent and he finds him severely beaten and mumbling about Maggie, so he takes him back to his clinic and gets Maggie too. When Colby wakes up he sees her and also Duffy but then Eian comes in and he recognizes him, too. He’s scared but stands up to him. He has information on the Italians and trafficking people and that Lucian Venuti is behind it and has a powerful person helping him. He then tells him about telling his boss and being fired, blackballed, and that he lost his job, credibility, and reputation. Both men feel something for each other and Eian recognizes that he wants this brave man for the rest of his life. As he heals, they continue to talk and when it’s time to leave the hospital Eian tells him he has to go back to his mansion. He’s not happy but he’s gotten to know Eian and knows he won’t hurt him or Maggie and Rory tells him if he lets things go, he can have a good life with them and they already consider him part of their family. Eian has a son, Bran, and also another part of his family that includes one of the most powerful men in NYC and his mother who is his aunt. It can’t get out that they are associated with Eian and the Irish mob, so they meet in secret every week for dinner. Bran has no desire to take over for Eian when he decides to retire or dies so he is kept separate from that part of his life, although he knows about it. He can’t trust Colby with this information yet, so he doesn’t tell him about them and Colby knows he has to prove himself and earn his trust. They are falling fast for each other, and this leads to a kiss and later to some hot love scenes. Meanwhile the trafficking problem is becoming worse, and they have found some warehouses filled with people in cages and know this has to stop. Since Colby has the information on it from when he was a reporter, he goes to get it and they start trying to figure out who is behind it with the Italians. Eian uses Seamus who is a computer genius, but they keep coming up with dead ends until they go to a brothel and find one of the girls who has a man who visits her every week and they figure out who he is. They have to involve the other heads of the Russian and Chinese Mafias in the city, and they make a plan to expose him. But when they do they get a surprise that involves the Turris, who own and rule everything in the city, and who the leader of it is, and eventually they get Eian and Colby to join it. By this time they have fallen in love and Colby has gotten over all his reservations about Eian being the head of the Irish Mafia and what he does because he knows the protection he gives to innocent people and to him and Maggie and that he loves them and Eian returns his love. I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t mention this but there is a lot of killing and murder in the story, which is common in books involving the Mafia. Colby, being a reporter, is extremely nosy and can’t let “knowing” go. This gets him in trouble but also leads him to Eian. Eian knows from the beginning that Colby is the one for him but gives him the time he needs to figure out he wants to be with him because of everything he has to do. He also does all the jobs the head of the Mafia would do, including interrogating and killing if necessary but wants to protect those that are innocent. His family, Duffy and Rory, his security force, the heads of the other Mafias and the members of the Turris also play a big part in this book and what happens. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories about the Mafia in the city and how they work, the head of one of the families and how he falls in love with an investigative report, and how they solve the mystery of who is trafficking people and take down who is behind it as well as find a secret society that they will become a part of all while falling in love.

[Sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

CUNNING EIAN - HINSEL MEYER

This is a brand new series by Hinsel Meyer, and is considered romantic suspense.

Colby is a journalist by profession but while researching a big story on the area mafia’s that ended up getting him fired, he becomes an informant for the Irish mafia after unknowingly having a run in with someone from their organization while out on a quick trip to get formula for his daughter Maggie. Money and groceries appear at his apartment after that along with notes asking him to watch a few area locations. When he realizes his ‘benefactor’ hasn’t been around for a few weeks, he decides to try and find out if he is okay.

Eian is the boss of the Irish mafia and doesn’t know a thing about Colby until he finds out he is being held by the Italian mafia for spying on them and being considered an Irish mafia informant. Their initial meeting is when Eian rescues Colby from the Italians. And despite being roughed up and barely being able to see or speak, Colby’s first words are asking for Maggie and then standing up to Eian. For Eian, it was love at first sight, despite Colby’s appearance. Colby took a little longer but appreciated the found family and how much everyone took care of one another and especially Maggie.

There are a lot of great characters, and the storyline is filled with suspense, action, and some laugh out loud moments that when mixed together make a fantastic read! I am looking forward to the next book.

[Siân PJsAndBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Hinsel, for my copy of Cunning Eian; The first book in the Turris Series. Cunning Eian can be read as a standalone but The Turris series is a spinoff of both Fan Service & All It Takes series. I have wanted Eian book since we got a few sneak peeks of him in other books & was not disappointed. Hinsel Meyer's is one of my favourite authors who doesn't disappoint. Cunning Eian is different from their other books but still undeniable Hinsel. The Prologue did not pull any punches & I adored how that moment was fleshed out later in the book.

Eian is a mob boss with a heart but whatever you do don't tell him that. Colby is a single dad to baby Maggie whose curiosity gets him entangled with the mob! Their romance seemed a certainty as long as mob life didn't get in the way. Cunning Eian kept me on the edge of my seat, I was rooting for the baddies to be taken down & for their HEA. You'll need to read Cunning Eian to discover who the baddies are 😜

🖤 MM Romantic Suspense
🖤 Morally Grey
🖤 Secret Society
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Single Dad
🖤 Possessiveness
🖤 Age Gap (12 Years)
🖤 Mob Boss Falls First
🖤 Opposites Attract
🖤 Prologue
🖤 Dual POV
🖤 Epilogue
🖤 Bonus Content

I am excited for the rest of The Turris Series and look forward to reading Clever Eli coming out later this year.

https://www.instagram.com/pjsandbooks To check out some of my favourite quotes.

[Mikaela (risqué.romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cunning Eian - Hinsel Meyer
4.5/5✨🌟

* SPOILERS *

I’ve been hooked on the way that Hinsel writes and this book definitely didn’t disappoint me. I love it when the first book in a new series or a spin off series immediately sucks you in.

It’s a hit or miss when it comes to single father tropes but man, this was done so well. I will say that I was definitely entertained by how these two were brought into each other’s company.

I love me a good fast pace romance but only if it’s done right and Hinsel did it so perfectly.

God, the way that Colby confessed his feelings and how Eian just listened was so heartwarming. He was so patient and it truly showed in the moment just how much he would burn down the ground for this man.

Also, I loved the sneakiness that was thrown in there. You can’t just have all the serious moments with a little playful banter. It made this book so worth it with the sarcastic comments or even the sarcasm throughout the book.

I do love that we got the mafia side throughout the book, the found family aspect and of course the HEA for Colby and Eian. This book was the perfect start to make you want more. What really made me love this book was just how Eian was thrown a world wind when this man popped up in his life. I love it when the big boss is the one to fall first and so hard.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive start to Hinsel's new series

Having read all of Hinsel's books since her very first one, I've been looking forward to reading her mafia boss' story since he first appeared in This Is On You. A bit of a change from all her high profile sports stars or rock stars but a very welcome one
Colby is an investigative journalist that has never met a question he wouldn't ask and that has a habit of getting him in trouble and now, Eian is that trouble. Eian, head of the New York Irish mafia, doesn't know what hit him when his path crosses with Colby's under the worst of circumstances.
Hinsel weaves found family, real family, high stakes, duplicity and betrayal, into an absorbing tale that builds the foundations for the rest of the series and whets the appetite for what is to come. Familiar faces appear from Hinsel's other books and blend in easily with the new characters that I quickly grew to love. Eian and Colby are such fun to watch, their interactions much sweeter than I expected but it fits them as characters perfectly, as does their fast-forward romance which also rang true. Rory and Duffy were both fabulous and I really hope we see more of them both.
The next book in the series, Clever Eli, is a romance that has been teased before, with cameo appearances, so I can't wait for that to come out.

[Julia Toth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting start to a new series. Colby and Eian got their happily ever after, but I have so many questions regarding The Turris. It took be a bit to get into the story, but as a series starter this book had a lot of responsibility regarding setting the scene and introducing a lot of characters. It was so interesting to see everything play out regarding the non-romantic plot point. I was on the edge of my seat during that part!
I really liked Eian and Colby together. I loved how doting, cute Eian was despite being the head of the Irish mob. Eian is such a caretaker and it was great to see that in him. Colby on the other hand is pretty fearless, fiercely protective and very inquisitive. Despite this book being a smidge darker, there were still some funny and sweet moments sprinkled throughout the story.
I really love how this series also ties in with the authors other stories, and some characters aren't new to us. I'm very excited to see where this series goes in the future.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. We first meet Eian as a side character in Hinsel’s Fan Service series and he was always a little intriguing to me, so I am so happy to have more of his back story. Colby is a single dad who is trying to do the best for his daughter. Together Eian and Colby are great, they are sweet (to each other) and understanding and seeing Colby being out Eian’s softer side is adorable. I absolutely adore these two (3 if you count Maggie) and the rest of the family. I also love that this new series is interconnected with the rest of Hinsel’s universe and that we get to see some beloved characters from her other series, she truly is a Mastermind. And I love that Eian Protects the Family.

I received this ARC from the author and these are my honest opinions.

[Wicked River Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun and sweet! Colby was great, I loved how determined and feisty he was and yet he was so loving and unabashed when it came to his emotions especially for his daughter. Eian was such a well balanced mobster who founded a family with the same morals and values he had when it came to respect and those you love. Yes, he was a scary mob boss but he also put family first and lead with integrity. The bond between Colby and Eian was sweet and I loved that Maggie was always on Colby’s mind and his reason for moving forward in life and that Eian developed that same connection with her over time. The side characters were fun and I enjoyed the found family. I’m excited for book 2!

💛 ARC REVIEW🖤

☑️ Trigger Warnings.

[Wendy Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

We have seen Eian in a few of Hinsel's other books so the character is not knew to me, yet getting his story was so much fun to read. Eian is an Irish mobster who has a heart of gold. He protects those who are important to him and has a moral code he follows. Colby is an investigative journalist who has a daughter and is trying to get by. When their worlds collide a beautiful story unfolds.

I loved the way they interacted with each other and how much Colby wasn't intimidated by Eian. As they learn to build trust with each other they start to see how good they can be together and how they can help each other. I also loved seeing Harrison and his family in this book.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m generally not a big mafia romance reader (although that is starting to change), but I’ve been ARC reading for Hinsel since her debut novel and knew I had to at least give this one a try. I ended up absolutely loving it! While darker than her previous books, the story still had the amazing characters with a fantastic connection and the interesting plot points I’ve come to expect.

This is technically a spin off, but it could absolutely be read as a stand alone. Readers get plenty of character background in this book to understand the story and relationships.

It doesn’t appear that this series will continue to be mafia focused. The Turris is a unique idea, and I’m interested to see where their stories take us!

I received an ARC of this book from the author, and this is my honest review

[b00ks_in_nature · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Hinsel announced this new series, I cannot express how excited I was. (Especially when the MC's of book two were announced!) Eian and Colby were everything. Eian was immediately a smitten kitten (with VERY sharp claws and teeth). Colby felt the intense draw, but took a little bit due to who/what Eian was. Both have strong values. They just come at them a little differently...

The plot for this was so interesting, especially when a huge reveal happened. I felt the pacing was great. The characters were very well developed - I genuinely cared about them. Including the side characters. I would have read this in one sitting if adulting didn't get in my way. I'm basically feral waiting for the next story, and eager to see where this series goes.

[Shannon Winning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! It really catches you from the start and continues to drag you in with the plot!

Colby is working for the mob… he thinks he’s not really sure but he enjoys it for the most part and he makes good money for himself and his little girl but when he goes snooping where’s he’s not supposed to he’s gonna need a guardian angel to save him. That is where Eian comes in the leader of said mob that he thinks he works for.

They definitely have a connection from the start and I loved seeing how the plot played out in this. It had its spicy times, found family and also suspense thrown all together. And the way they all melted for Colby’s little girl was too cute.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book, after encountering the main character in This Is On You, a novella in the Fan Service Series. Cunning Eian, by Hinsel Meyer, tells a lovely story of a morally-gray leader in the Irish mafia, who falls for a journalist with a nose for information and the ability to find himself in unfortunate places. I especially enjoyed the side characters in this book, Rory and Duffy. There was nothing gratuitous and has an ending that satisfies. I’m very much looking forward to the next book, Clever Eli. DISCLAIMER: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Chasary Mendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! I loved and enjoyed this book so much!! It’s like I was reading and living inside this book. Eian. Is the boss of the Irish mob with a good heart but doesn’t let anyone see it. He’s also a dad which I loved so much. Colby was an investigating journalist until he got fired he’s a single dad. He becomes worried about who he think he believes is in trouble and puts himself in a sticky situation. EIAN SAVES Colby and boom instant chemistry. Hinsel keep me on my toes with this one the plot twist the WTF Moments. Yes it ends with the sweetest HEA ever!!

[Andrea Smedley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of this author and really enjoyed them, particularly the sports romances. This is a foray into the mafia romance world. I did enjoy it, just not as much as the sports ones! There's a good plot and plenty of good interesting characters as always. Eian and Colby have great chemistry. Towards the end the plot gets quite convoluted with the Turris concept, which I found a bit difficult to follow and am not sure how to take. But I love the author and I'm very intrigued to see how the series develops.

I received an ARC from the author.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eian runs the Irish Mob inheriting the "privilege" from his Dad. Colby is a journalist with a baby daughter who gets in hot water over his head and Eian saves him only to realize he's the one for him. Eian is icy cool yet Colby lights his fire. Colby is well aware of Eian's power but is snarky, curious and holds his own with Eian, even though he is falling for him too. It's dark, dangerous and steamy for the two. I loved the Mafia edge, the Turris twist, the new quirky yet psychopathic characters and past series characters returning. I received a copy of this and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don’t read mafia romance but I was intrigued by Eian as a character while reading Harry’s story. What I mostly liked about this book was the story itself and the”mystery”. I found Eian to be an interesting character. I wish there had been a bit more depth to Colby. I liked the twins as side characters. I had some trouble with the morally grey parts as expected. I wish there had been a bit more about Colby’s reasoning about this.
In the end I found the whole thing about the Turret a bit confusing.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spin off time starting with Eian!! I loved me the tough mob boss who softens right up when faced with saving and nurturing him and his daughter. Colby was a sweetheart who loved his adopted daughter Maggie more than anything, but his nosey reporter side got him involved with people and places he should have never come across. I respected what a strong person he was and enjoyed seeing these two slowly become a family.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single dad/mafia boss

Colby just can't help himself, his nosey reporter brain always gets him in trouble.
He's equally brave in the face of danger (I say it's more stubbornness than anything else) especially where his daughter Maggie is concerned.
Eian is the big, tough, mafia boss who actually softenes for them both.
Having to navigate the danger surrounding them brings out his protective side.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

EIAN AND COLBY ARE PASSIONATE, AND OH SO GOOOOOD TOGETHER!!

So Colby begins being a lookout for the mafia, and when he doesn’t hear from his contact, he gets curious and begins to search for his contact. While looking, he gets kidnapped, and his contacts boss goes to save Colby. That is when Colby meets Eian. These two have such wonderful chemistry and great times together. I loved the side characters so freaking much and Colby's daughter is very cute. Great read!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I read the whole thing in one sitting- I couldn’t put it down. The relationship between Eain and Colby is entertaining to say the least. The mix of sweet and nurturing with caution and trepidation is balanced very well. If you like mafia based stories where the characters are bad but also good in a way this book is for you.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, I couldn't put the book down.

Both Colby and Aien are strong personalities in their own way.

A powerful story, and I'm already looking forward to book number 2.

I recieved this ARC from the Author and these are my honest opinions

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I liked Colby and Eian. Their relationship is fast but true. I liked the storyline a lot. It moves fast but gives plenty of detail. I really liked the characters. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Overall this was a good read.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

riveting

Love the premise of the Turris and was excited for Eian’s story (Harrison and Tristan’s was one of my fave of the universe). In the end, Eian and Colby are a good match. Resilience being a common characteristic. There’s some steam. Lots of action and drama!