Nina Sorotokina is known to the general reader mainly from the novel “Three from the Navigation School,” which served as the basis for the creation of a series of films under the general title “Midshipmen, Forward!” But Nina Sorotokina began her writing career with short stories. This book includes the ironic detective story “With a View of Paris, or An Attempt at a Detective” and stories, both previously published and new. They are written simply, in clear Russian, with unobtrusive humor and respect for their heroes.