To Reason Why is a complete fictitious story . It is based in Yorkshire and Australia. Archibald and Margaret Benson-Smythe inherited an Estate of over a thousand acres which had been in the family for over four hundred years. This they intended that their three sons. Benjamin, James and Charles should carry on after their deaths. Benjamin called Ben inherited as the eldest son but was a bully and a hypocrite and had no intention of having his two brothers to work with him, consequently they made their own way in life James emigrated to Australia with his new wife . Charles started a wool mill and as the two of them became more and more successful Ben became more and more jealous of them He schemes up a plan to have James murdered. But does his scheme back fire. Ben's long suffering wife Jane of twelve years and produced six children turns the tables on him.