Sponsored by the International Association of Detective Writers, the Dashiell Hammett Prize is awarded annually during the Semana Negra de Gijón along with other prizes, such as the Celsius (fantasy, science fiction or horror), Spartacus (historical novel), Memorial Silverio Cañada (debut crime fiction), Rodolfo Walsh (true crime fiction) and a short story contest, to distinguish the best crime fiction book written in Spanish. (Source Wikipedia in Spanish)
Past Winners
1988 La vida misma by Paco Ignacio Taibo II
1989 Barcelona Connection by Andreu Martín
1990 Castigo divino by Sergio Ramírez (English edition Divine Punishment by Sergio Ramírez, trans. Nicholas Castor)
1991 Cuatro manos by Paco Ignacio Taibo II (English edition Four Hands by Paco Ignacio Taibo II, trans. Laura C. Dail)
1992 Allá ellos by Daniel Chavarría
1993 El hombre de la navaja by Andreu Martín
1994 La bicicleta de Leonardo by Paco Ignacio Taibo II (English edition Leonardo’s bycicle by Paco Ignacio Taibo II, trans. Martin Michael Roberts)
1995 Luna de escarlata by Rolo Díez
1996 Chau papá by Juan Damonte
1997 Hipnos by Javier Azpeitia, ex-aequo with Tabaco para el puma by Juan Hernández Luna
1998 Paisaje de otoño by Leonardo Padura (English edition Havana Black by Leonardo Padura, trans. Peter Bush)
1999 Mirando espero by Justo Vasco
2000 Rosario Tijeras by Jorge Franco Ramos
2001 Bellísimas personas by Andreu Martín
2002 Clara y la penumbra by José Carlos Somoza
2003 El pecado o algo parecido by Francisco González Ledesma, ex-aequo with Mundos sucios by José Latour
2004 Papel picado by Rolo Díez
2005 Penúltimo nombre de guerra by Raúl Argemí Heredia, ex-aequo with La Mara by Rafael Ramírez
2006 La neblina del ayer by Leonardo Padura (English edition Havana Fever by Leonardo Padura, trans. Peter Bush) my review is here
2007 Cadáver de ciudad by Juan Hernández Luna
2008 El imán y la brújula by Juan Ramón Biedma, ex-aequo with Chamamé by Leonardo Oyola
2009 Niños de tiza by David Torres, ex-aequo with 77 by Guillermo Saccomanno
2010 Ciudad Santa by Guillermo Orsi (English edition Holy City by Guillermo Orsi trans.Nick Caistor) my review is here
2011 Blanco nocturno by Ricardo Piglia my review is here
2012 Las niñas perdidas by Cristina Fallarás
2013 Cámara Gesell by Guillermo Saccomanno
2014 La estrategia del pequinés by Alexis Ravelo (Special mention to Don de lenguas by Rosa Ribas and Sabine Hofmann)
A Crime is Afoot 
I recently saw Paco Ignacio Taibo II in Lyon and wish that I could read more of his books (will probably read them in French), as he was hugely entertaining and Mexico is one hell of a country to try and capture in fiction…
PIT II is quite an institution in Spain and quite a reference in crime fiction written in Spanish. The main crime fiction festival in Spain, la Semana Negra de Gijón, was the result of his tenacity and enthusiasm. He’s certainly the godfather of Spanish crime fiction. Now you have remember me to get back and read the rest of his novels in the Héctor Belascoarán Shayne series.
He’s also responsible for getting Leonardo Padura published, apparently.
I didn’t know that, thanks Marina Sofia.