In Right from the Gecko, the fifth installment of Cynthia Baxter’s Reigning Cats & Dogs Mystery series, veterinarian and amateur sleuth Jessica Popper heads to Maui for a professional conference. Accompanied by her boyfriend, Nick Burby, their trip takes a dark turn when Jessica befriends a young reporter whose body is later discovered on the beach. Drawn into the investigation, Jessica encounters a range of suspects, including the victim’s journalistic rivals, a mysterious boyfriend, an eccentric beachcomber, and a governor’s aide linked to a controversial biotech firm. As Jessica delves deeper, she must navigate the lush Hawaiian setting and uncover the killer before becoming the next target.