Massimo Carlotto began his literary career, particularly writing novels in the noir genre, with Il fuggiasco ("The Fugitive", 1995), a fictionalized autobiography about his time on the run.

The book was made into a film in 2003, directed by Andrea Manni, with Daniele Liotti as Carlotto.

His most famous character is the Alligator, alias Marco Buratti, an entirely original private detective.

He knows and has interviewed the founder of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, Estela Carlotto, whom he transpired to be related to, and who sought news of her daughter and newborn grandson, who numbered among the desaparecidos.

In 2001 he released Arrivederci, amore ciao (which was adapted into the movie The Goodbye Kiss by Michele Soavi, 2005).