“THE MORNING SHOW MURDERS” (DELACORTE PRESS, 312 PAGES, $26)

Al Roker sticks to what he knows — morning TV— in his first murder mystery, “The Morning Show Murders.” He begins by introducing a protagonist named Billy Blessing, a cooler version of Roker himself.

Roker has become a household name thanks to his weather reports, which he often mixes with corny, sometimes cringe-worthy jokes, on NBC’s “Today” show. He has also hosted shows on the Food Network.
In “The Morning Show Murders,” Blessing is a celebrity chef, restaurant owner and popular co-host on the successful TV show “Wake Up America!” He is described as “the guy with the food features, interviews and joke of the day.”
The plot picks up when Blessing’s executive producer is found murdered. The cause of death? Poisoned food made at Blessing’s bistro! Could America’s favorite TV personality be a killer? That’s what the police want to know.
The rest of the story has Blessing working to prove his innocence.
This isn’t a gripping novel that keeps readers turning the pages, but trying to connect the dots between the “Today” show and the novel is entertaining.
Readers who enjoy the book can look forward to more helpings from Roker. “The Morning Show Murders” is the first in a series about Blessing.
And just as Roker has developed his on-air skills over the years, his books about Blessing could get better over time.