Villanova Man Pens 'The Girl Who Fished with a Worm'

Villanova resident Harry Groome wants would-be readers of his recently published book, The Girl Who Fished with a Worm to know that the book is very much like Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy but without the darkness and violence.

In fact, the spoof of the Swede’s trilogy is not only lightheartedly, purchases of it go to a worthy cause. A dollar for very book purchased will go to the restoration of the Penobscot River in Maine to tie in with the book and the murder victim’s love of fishing and conservation, said Groome.

“The reviews have been great, and it was great fun,” said the author, who in 2007 wrote Wing Walking, which is about the pharmaceutical industry.

The Girl Who Fished with a Worm originally appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and went on to win the IndieReader Discovery Award for humor that was announced at BookExpo America in NYC in June.

“I think he would be amused and pleased,” Groome said of Larsson. “In the dedication of the book I dedicate it to him with thanks and apologies.”

Groome’s story basically follows the story that he parodies: it’s a murder mystery, and the main character is a computer expert and martial arts expert. But it has a happy ending and it’s funny.

“I wrote some fiction humor years ago as a freelance writer, but the first fictional piece in years that I’ve written is parody,” Groome said. The former president of SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories writes every day and considers writing his “twilight” career.

“I just want to be considered a good story teller.”

Paperback and Kindle versions of the book are available on Amazon.com.