According to Jim Butcher's introduction to 'AAAA Wizardry,' this story takes place shortly after The Dresden Files book eight, Proven Guilty.

The framing sequence is Harry Dresden teaching a class on independent investigation of supernatural threats to young Wardens of the White Council. Only two of them are named: a Russian woman named Illyana and a Canadian man named McKenzie. The four 'As' are 'ascertain,' 'analysis,' 'assemble,' and 'act'. A fifth one is mentioned after the sample case is recounted. Considering his own brother has applied the term to Harry, you might be able to guess that that fifth 'A'.

The sample case involves the Paranet: humans with enough magical talent to attract supernatural predators, but not enough to join the White Council. They're an expansion of Ordo Lebes, a group that appeared in The Dresden Files book nine, White Night. They had their current name by book 10, Small Favor.

The Paranet member requesting help this time is Megan Yardley, a single mother living in a place that really exists - Peculiar, Missouri. Megan has three children: Kat, who is 12, Joey, who appears to be 8, and 4-year-old Tamara. (Harry had to estimate Joey's age because Megan didn't mention it. She's been worried about the young Misses Yardley.) The fifth Yardley we meet is Megan's brother, Detective Inspector Ben Yardley. He doesn't believe in magic, but he does believe in his sister. He also has his gun with him. How nice.

It's not long after Megan is able to tell Ben that (contrary to the opinion of the Chicago police), Harry is the real deal that Harry and Ben get an example of what has Megan worried. Harry quickly figures out what's wrong and comes up with a solution. It doesn't go according to plan.

Note: Dresden burned his left hand in book six, Blood Rites. What he doesn't tell the class is that if he'd been a plain vanilla human, that hand would have been amputated. Let's hear it for wizard healing powers! They're slower than X-Man Wolverine's healing factor, but I'd love to have them. ( )