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Set Free: Discover Forgiveness Amidst Murder and Betrayal
The amazing true story of Gaile Owens' release from death row shows how God opened a door for a mother and son to both be set free OCo one from a prison of unforgiveness, the other from a literal prison cell.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
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298 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 28, 2013
Full disclosure, I'm working on this book. But I must say that when it comes out this fall, it is an incredibly dramatic story of forgiveness that is a must for any person to read. I have some galleys available if any of you would like to read it prior to October 1. Thanks!
June 17, 2019
Well La Ti da. Holds back a lot, expects a lot from the law enforcement and has no respect for them trying to do their job. I stop reading on page 76. I just could care less about reading more about his half story, you can feel the fake he is presenting. I feel he just wanted to look at me book.
October 19, 2019
Wow, written by a teacher? Hard to read. Tho he is a better person than I. Not sure I could have forgiven her. So she was not executed and was taken off of death row. Fine. But she should never have been released. The husband she had murdered didn't get to walk away, did he? A greedy, manipulative, thieving narcissist that have her husband brutally murdered for insurance money and allowed her 12 year old son to find his father brutally bludgeoned like that. Then she maligns her late husband by saying that he mentally and sexually abused her when he isn't here to defend himself and there is no proof at all. Vile woman who should still be in prison until she dies. At least she would die as brutal a death as she caused her husband. And listing herself as a widow on her face book page is disgusting. She should have her status as murderer and thief instead.
August 20, 2020
When Stephen's mother murdered his father, life as he knew it ceased to exist. This powerful account chronicles how a son grows up without parents. Stephen decides to follow the voice of Jesus into an excruciatingly hard place. This story more than any on my list makes me uncomfortable with the cost of obedience. I am persuaded Stephen was named well. His forgiveness reminds me of Stephen the martyr.
June 5, 2022
I always enjoy reading books about forgiveness in real situations. The author did a great job of showing his struggle to follow through on what we are all commanded to do. This wasn't a forgive and everything is roses type of book. This was a book of a man who was a Christ follower having his world turned upside down at age 12 and the 25 years he walked through to be at a place of being able to forgive.
March 30, 2023
Sometimes you just have to disregard poor reviews. This is a book was a surprisingly compelling memoir about a family caught in unimaginable heartache and their path through it to forgiveness and reconciliation. This is the story of one man's struggle to reconcile authentic faith with a hurt-hardened heart. Stephen Owens shares his inspiring faith journey and the joy that comes from being set free from bitterness and unforgiveness.
August 18, 2019
I hate to rate this one so low because I really did appreciate his story, but it was tough to get through. I got really bogged down with repetitive details. It was a beautiful story of forgiveness that I wish could had been told with a bit more panache.
August 29, 2020
I cried several times while reading this book on forgiveness. Because my family has had quite a bit of tragedy, and consequently, many things to forgive, this book caught my eye. I love how the son was able to forgive his mother and I hope the other son can do that one day.
September 7, 2017
I wasn't sure I would like this book when I started reading it, but ended up hooked and read the whole thing. It was interesting and made me think more deeply about my own Christian faith.
February 28, 2018
Poorly written with scattered thoughts. Also very repetitive. I put the book down after 50 pages.
July 19, 2025
This was such a great testimony about forgiveness in such a heartbreaking situation.
September 30, 2013
Set Free: A Story of Peace Found Through Forgiveness
Stephen Owens
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Goodreads' First Reads Giveaway program in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
You can read the back of a book to get a general idea of the plot that lies between the covers. But until you open the book and start reading on page one, you don't truly know. This one caught me totally off guard. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but what I got was a lot more than I bargained for. The story is Stephen Owens' journey. Our lesson, should we choose to learn from it, is his legacy.
I was immersed in the story from the beginning and felt very connected to Owens throughout the whole book. The secondary characters are well-fleshed out, so I felt connections there as well. I appreciated the involvement of his Pastor and their church family, and how much Owens, his family and his mother relied on their faith in God on this journey. A journey that was difficult at times to digest - filled with so much emotion and pain. So as not to make a spoiler, a very poignant excerpt for me that really brings the author's loss home is the first two pages of Chapter 31.
Owens is a man who experienced violence and loss early in his life. As an adult, bolstered by his strong Christian beliefs, he learned how to forgive and it didn't just change his life - read the book to see how many people are affected by this single journey. Owens makes a case for forgiveness in any kind of situation:
Who needs to be set free? Anyone who has ever been wounded or hurt by the words, actions, or attitudes of someone else.
While most people will never experience the horror of violent crime among their family members, everyone has pain from the past, wrongs inflicted upon them, times when they have been mistreated physically, emotionally, or spiritually. The only remedy for those wounds is forgiveness. True freedom can only be found through reconciliation between people who have long been at war, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. . . . I believe that the words of Jesus are more relevant for us today than ever. The Great Physician said, "The truth shall set you free ... And if I set you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:32, 36, author paraphrase).
That, my friends, is the lesson. 5 out of 5 stars
Stephen Owens
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Goodreads' First Reads Giveaway program in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
You can read the back of a book to get a general idea of the plot that lies between the covers. But until you open the book and start reading on page one, you don't truly know. This one caught me totally off guard. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but what I got was a lot more than I bargained for. The story is Stephen Owens' journey. Our lesson, should we choose to learn from it, is his legacy.
I was immersed in the story from the beginning and felt very connected to Owens throughout the whole book. The secondary characters are well-fleshed out, so I felt connections there as well. I appreciated the involvement of his Pastor and their church family, and how much Owens, his family and his mother relied on their faith in God on this journey. A journey that was difficult at times to digest - filled with so much emotion and pain. So as not to make a spoiler, a very poignant excerpt for me that really brings the author's loss home is the first two pages of Chapter 31.
Owens is a man who experienced violence and loss early in his life. As an adult, bolstered by his strong Christian beliefs, he learned how to forgive and it didn't just change his life - read the book to see how many people are affected by this single journey. Owens makes a case for forgiveness in any kind of situation:
Who needs to be set free? Anyone who has ever been wounded or hurt by the words, actions, or attitudes of someone else.
While most people will never experience the horror of violent crime among their family members, everyone has pain from the past, wrongs inflicted upon them, times when they have been mistreated physically, emotionally, or spiritually. The only remedy for those wounds is forgiveness. True freedom can only be found through reconciliation between people who have long been at war, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. . . . I believe that the words of Jesus are more relevant for us today than ever. The Great Physician said, "The truth shall set you free ... And if I set you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:32, 36, author paraphrase).
That, my friends, is the lesson. 5 out of 5 stars
September 18, 2013
I was given a copy of the book for the purpose of review.
Set Free is a story about the life of Stephen Owens. This is a moving story about his need to forgive and be forgiven. Stephen Owens has lived a nightmare that many of us will never have the experience of. But there will be some who can fully understand and relate. Gaile Owens, Stephens' mother, was incarcerated most of his life and hers. Gaile says she had an abusive marriage and also was cheated on. She had tried to leave the marriage but threats of taking her sons and never being able to see them again kept her in the marriage. Thinking it was the only way out she hired a hit man and he beat her husband so badly that he would later die. Gaile took responsibility for setting it up and would serve 26 years on death row before her sentence was overturned and commuted to a life sentence. Stephen did not speak with his mother for decades, she had taken his hero from him and in turn took herself away from he and his brother. She had changed their lives so dramatically in one night with a terrible decision that he was unsure if he could ever forgive her. But the Lord intervened and put many opportunities in his path to reunite mother and son. In the end Stephen asked himself, "If God can forgive, who am I not to?".
My heart broke for this family. I saw how one bad decision can destroy not only the immediate family but the wider family circle. It can destroy friendships and split communities. I saw hope in forgiveness and the path to that forgiveness. I saw God as he worked his healing in the man, his mother and their family. Hopefully this book can be helpful for others who face this type of problem and it will let them know they do have options and can find help and not end up where Gaile Owens did.
Set Free is a story about the life of Stephen Owens. This is a moving story about his need to forgive and be forgiven. Stephen Owens has lived a nightmare that many of us will never have the experience of. But there will be some who can fully understand and relate. Gaile Owens, Stephens' mother, was incarcerated most of his life and hers. Gaile says she had an abusive marriage and also was cheated on. She had tried to leave the marriage but threats of taking her sons and never being able to see them again kept her in the marriage. Thinking it was the only way out she hired a hit man and he beat her husband so badly that he would later die. Gaile took responsibility for setting it up and would serve 26 years on death row before her sentence was overturned and commuted to a life sentence. Stephen did not speak with his mother for decades, she had taken his hero from him and in turn took herself away from he and his brother. She had changed their lives so dramatically in one night with a terrible decision that he was unsure if he could ever forgive her. But the Lord intervened and put many opportunities in his path to reunite mother and son. In the end Stephen asked himself, "If God can forgive, who am I not to?".
My heart broke for this family. I saw how one bad decision can destroy not only the immediate family but the wider family circle. It can destroy friendships and split communities. I saw hope in forgiveness and the path to that forgiveness. I saw God as he worked his healing in the man, his mother and their family. Hopefully this book can be helpful for others who face this type of problem and it will let them know they do have options and can find help and not end up where Gaile Owens did.
October 9, 2013
I thought the book was awesome, there is a little bit of everything in Set Free: A Story of Peace Found Through Forgiveness. This book had me emotionally involved from cover to cover. I am glad Goodreads gave me the opportunity to read it. In the story I was horrified that Gail felt she had no choice but to hire someone to rid her life of her husband. To make matters worse the oldest baby discovered his dad. I can understand how a child can be torn between the love they have for both parents when a tragedy such as this occurs. I was also relieved that Stephen worked through the heart ache and turmoil to eventually arriving at a place where he could forgive his mom. I will admit it drove me up the wall because it seems like it took him forever to go see his mom. This story is so powerful that it made me take a look at some unhealed relationships I have in my own life. I would like to know how things are progressing now.
March 23, 2014
"Set Free: A Story of Peace Found Through Forgiveness" is the true story of Stephen Owens mother who was convicted & sentenced to death for the murder of her husband. Eventually through the appeals process & a lot of patience she would eventually find her own freedom. The book itself is a story of perseverance & determination as Stephen works on learning just how to forgive his mother for what she did & also how that new bond that he had with her helped once she got released. With John Siegenthaler along for the ride as a contributor to the book (he covered the story while working in Memphis at the time) the book ends up being a very personable look at just what it means to love & forgive & also to be patient with the process that convicted people are put through. The writing is sound & the emotion is real as we the reader follow Owens on this very personal journey. An enjoyable book for anyone who wants to look for the best in us all.
March 23, 2014
I got this book about a week and a half or so ago. I liked the book, but it was not one of my favorites. It is a story that you would most likely see on Nightline or 20 20. I think older people (adults 30's, 40's, and 50's) would like this book more than the younger generation. If you like stories like those on Nightline then you'll like this book. Otherwise, if you don't like 20 20 or Nightline then don't bother with this book because it won't be the book for you. I would also like to add that this would not be a ideal book for the younger generation because the plot is more interesting for adults. I would personally NOT re-read this book because I personally think that reading this book once was enough.
January 23, 2016
Thank you netgalley and B&H Books for letting me review this book.
The premise of the book sounded like a good one. A 12 year old boy finds his dad bludgeoned to death in his own living room and his story of how he came to forgive his mom who set the whole thing in motion. I truly couldn't wait to read this book on how he came to forgive his mom and tried to get his mom off of death row. After I started reading it I struggled through. This book suffers from telling and not showing. I felt like the author was holding a lot of stuff back, including his emotions. Another issue that I had with the book was it repeated the same things over and over and over and sometimes just on the next page was the exact same sentence that was used before. I do not recommend this book.
The premise of the book sounded like a good one. A 12 year old boy finds his dad bludgeoned to death in his own living room and his story of how he came to forgive his mom who set the whole thing in motion. I truly couldn't wait to read this book on how he came to forgive his mom and tried to get his mom off of death row. After I started reading it I struggled through. This book suffers from telling and not showing. I felt like the author was holding a lot of stuff back, including his emotions. Another issue that I had with the book was it repeated the same things over and over and over and sometimes just on the next page was the exact same sentence that was used before. I do not recommend this book.
March 29, 2019
This was a interesting book that showed how a crime affects the family of the convicted person. While this book does give some insight into the crime that was committed, the real foundation of the book is how it affected the son and his family members. While realizing that sometimes you are not given the whole truth, the author was able to reconnect with his mother that was convicted and sent to death row. The mixture of feelings and the journey they both took to get the conviction commuted to life in prison was very interesting. The book makes you step in and think about how you would feel, and deal with the situation if it was you. This book is not for everyone. It does talk about the author's religious beliefs but over all this was definitely a book that made you think.
September 7, 2013
This was an interesting account of a man whose mother had hired someone to kill his father when the man was a boy. His mother was in prison on death row, and his father was dead. This is the story of his faith struggle as he tries to forgive his mother and establish a relationship with her. He visits her in prison and becomes involved in her attorneys' fight to save her from execution. He also has to explain to his 2 sons the situation in his family and help them develop a relationship with their grandmother. This is a difficult story but one that teaches us many important lessons. It is a moving and powerful book.
July 20, 2016
This was a great story with a very powerful message. The author shows how forgiveness is necessary to everyone in order to lead a full and free life. The writing unfortunately left much to be desired. I felt the author was frequently repetitive, even using the same phrases. Sometimes the timeline seemed jumbled or disjointed. Also, I think the story would have been even more powerful if he had delved deeper into his own feelings or how his desire to forgive his mother came about. Overall it was still worth the read and I feel uplifted by the message.
January 12, 2014
A sad story, but the writing was not very good. This book suffers from a lack of "show, don't tell". I felt like the author was holding a lot of stuff back, including his emotions.
The pacing felt off, and events and phrases were repeated often. There were lots of cliches, which usually point to an inexperienced author.
By far the last few pages were the strongest, but they alone weren't enough to make this book worth reading.
The pacing felt off, and events and phrases were repeated often. There were lots of cliches, which usually point to an inexperienced author.
By far the last few pages were the strongest, but they alone weren't enough to make this book worth reading.
September 2, 2013
A very powerful book about one son's struggle to forgive his mother for a heinous crime. It goes through so many loops and twists and ultimately comes to an incredible. Chapters are very easy to read and understand and it makes you feel like you understand what's going on. Truly incredible story about forgiveness.
January 12, 2014
I really enjoyed this book and it's author's willingness to share his struggles in the path to reconciliation with his mother. I felt like the message of forgiveness was very relevant. I found myself often wondering why there was no more information about Brian but it is Stephen's journey not Brian's.
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January 19, 2014To read this book was to sit under a powerful testimony of God's scandalous grace distributed by His kind patience and ever-drawing love in the life of equally bound mother and son!
Stephen Owen's gospel call in the final pages follows with poignancy the foundation of lives made new in the pages leading up to it!
Stephen Owen's gospel call in the final pages follows with poignancy the foundation of lives made new in the pages leading up to it!
September 1, 2013
Candid & Sincere
The candor was open and unpretentious. I felt several “bursts of emotion” as the author might call them and found myself wanting to dwell longer in them, but the book clipped along adding to the theme of not lingering in the past and moving forward through forgiveness.
The candor was open and unpretentious. I felt several “bursts of emotion” as the author might call them and found myself wanting to dwell longer in them, but the book clipped along adding to the theme of not lingering in the past and moving forward through forgiveness.
June 15, 2016
A beautiful story of forgiveness as the author tells his story of finding his bludgeoned and dying father, only to discover that his mother arranged the murder and was sentenced to death for the crime. This honest telling is what forgiveness looks like.
August 30, 2016
A must read. This book truly changes your heart towards those incarcerated for murder. I encourage any one to read Set Free and allow yourself to be open to forgiveness of others sins. Such an inspiring read.
January 5, 2017
I couldn't get through the book, and I almost never stop reading a book before reaching the end. He took a fascinating subject, and made it boring, by using dry and detached language, and repeating the same thing over and over again.
September 3, 2013
A moving story of forgiveness that manages to be touching instead of not handled very well.
March 16, 2015
A good story, a story worth reading. At times I found there was a lot of repetition of material already covered
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews