›Serenade‹ is exciting, entertaining and witty, and at the same time concerned with serious issues. The story of a son who rediscovers his mother. And a disturbing book about the helplessness of all of us who follow the news, know about the terrible things that are happening in the world, and are unable to do anything about it. Anneke Weiss, in her middle seventies and long since widowed, has just rediscovered her lust for life and her desire to interfere in the life of her son Bennie, a would-be composer. Then the doctors diagnose cancer. Bennie insists that they don't inform his mother about her terminal illness. Life seems to be carrying on as usual, and Anneke even falls in love with the 77-year-old Fred Bachmann. Then suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, the elderly lady disappears without trace. The only hope is that she has gone off on one of her pleasure jaunts with which she is constantly surprising her son. But why doesn't she give any sign of life? Bennie and Fred set off to look for Anneke. When they find her it is not on the Champs-Elysées, but in the freight station in Split. What made Anneke embark on this »journey«? This novel, only superficially humorous and carefree, is about a trauma which can break out at any time.