The Tragedy of Errors is the lengthy and detailed plot outline for the final but never published Ellery Queen novel, containing all the hallmarks of the greatest Queen mysteries—the dying message, the succession of false solutions before the astonishing truth is revealed, and scrupulous fair play to the listener. And the theme is one that Queen had been developing for many years: the manipulation of events in a world going mad by people who aspire to the power of gods.

The Tragedy of Errors also contains the six hitherto uncollected Ellery Queen short stories—"Terror Town," "Uncle from Australia," "The Three Students," "The Odd Man," "The Honest Swindler," "The Reindeer Clue," and "Wedding Anniversary."