From Montalbano to Savastanos: The circulation of Italian crime dramas in Spain.

This article examines the circulation and reception of Italian crime dramas in Spain, focusing on two key series: *Il commissario Montalbano* (Inspector Montalbano, 1999–2021) and *Gomorra – La serie* (Gomorrah, 2014–21). Using a political economy framework, it analyzes the adaptation of literary works by Andrea Camilleri and Roberto Saviano, the shifts in the Spanish media landscape, and programming strategies that influenced their appeal to Spanish broadcasters and audiences. The study highlights how *Inspector Montalbano* found success on Spanish public television (La2) through its Mediterranean settings and literary fandom, fostering a niche for Italian crime dramas, while *Gomorrah* faced challenges due to its complex, violent narrative and fragmented broadcasting across free-to-air and pay TV platforms. Both cases underscore the importance of synergies with the publishing industry over film adaptations in promoting Italian TV crime fiction in Spain.