Morgue Drawer Four, by Jutta Profijt

Car thief Pascha is pushed off a bridge after stealing a Mercedes with a body in the trunk.  With a high blood alcohol level and a bottle of schnaps in his pocket, Pascha is quickly pronounced the victim of a fatal accident.  Pascha's spirit won't put up with this tarnishing of his reputation, and he badgers the coroner, Martin Gansewein, into helping investigate, putting Martin's career, love life, and mortal life in danger.  Quite entertaining. 

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden, by Helen Grant

Generally speaking, I'm not that fond of books about children at risk, and poor Pia Kolvenbach is both at physical risk and at risk of having her heart broken.  Because her German grandmother just happened to set herself on fire, Pia is something of a pariah in Bad Münstereifel.  Her only friend is another outcast, StinkStefan, and lucky for her he is a great friend -- brave, loyal and fun.  Young girls are disappearing in this small German town as it prepares for Christmas, and according to local gossips, it isn't the first time.  Pia and Stefan put themselves in danger trying to find out who is to blame.  The stress and divisions in the town are having a disastrous effect on the marriage of Pia's parents. There's some wry humor, but perhaps not quite enough.