Play Audiobook Sample
The Million-Dollar Car Detective: Inside the Worldwide Hunt for a Stolen $7 Million Car Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(2.00) - 4 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
A stolen car worth $7 million. A broke private investigator. Best friends turned worst enemies.
And the global manhunt neither saw coming.
In 2001, thieves parked a box truck in front of an aging tycoon’s factory, cut the phone lines, and used an overhead crane to lift out their prize: a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop coupe—“the most beautiful car in the world” and one of only two in existence—then they disappeared into the night.
The tycoon died. The trail went cold. End of story.
Until it wasn’t.
In 2015, Joe Ford was a PI trying to scrape together enough money to help his daughter, who suffers from a disease causing her to go blind, when he got a tip.
A mechanic in the French Alps had been burned by a thief and had a secret to share: the location of the missing Talbot-Lago.
The reward for finding the car would mean Joe could not only save his daughter’s sight but also set his family up for life.
Using skills gleaned from his mentor Chris Gardner, who taught Joe everything he knew about the business of rare luxury cars, the investigation would span a decade and involve the FBI, Interpol, a global crime ring … and a shocking betrayal.
Elite racing machines, high-end thefts, and billionaires who will stop at nothing for a moment of glory—The Million-Dollar Car Detective is unlike any heist story ever told.
Download and start listening now!
“Stayton Bonner has a knack for unearthing sleek stories from the margins of American society that reveal whole subcultures few of us knew existed. I immensely enjoyed this tale of rolling Rembrandts and petroleum-fueled Picassos. In brisk, clean prose reminiscent of Chandler and Hammett, Bonner takes us into a noir world of heists and intrigues, of fast cars and fast living—and, in doing so, pierces the wild, weird heart of human obsession.”
— Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of Hellhound on His Trail and The Wide Wide Sea
Quotes
-
“Stayton Bonner has written one hell of a terrific true-life thriller. Filled with offbeat characters, wonderful locations, and exciting twists driven by American ambition and greed, I devoured this book. Toss aside your same old podcasts and routine mysteries for an addictive tale that fires on all cylinders and doesn’t let go until that final page.”
— Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of Don’t Let the Devil Ride and Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Awards
-
A Car and Driver Pick of 5 Books for Dads—and Anybody Else Who Loves Cars
The Million-Dollar Car Detective Listener Reviews
-
" A boring listen that seems all made up. Nothing makes sense. Detective _Lawyer comes on Off like a psychopath. Chapters appear totally unrelated. Not worth the read or listen. Pass. "
— Justin Shari, 10/22/2025 -
" A dis-fraction of illogical plot and an ending that leaves you thinking it was all made up by Joe who is the crook, scorned, gay and a loser the author related to to write this mess "
— Boy Scout Bluge, 9/21/2025 -
" A missed opportunity to a decent story but the a hero is a born loser and book is a mishmash of fiction and unrelated themes on a topic that makes no logical sense. Boring and a waste of time as it skips the plot and goes off in the weeds to many times. boring . "
— Ocean Joe, 9/9/2025 -
" It could have been a fantastic story but it deflates at the end with no answers to 1000 questions. Much of the truth was concealed to give a loser character a role. How does a bankrupt Florida conman wind up with a claim ownership of 90% of a 10$m car that he prepared the agreement to buy? So many illogical pieces and charlatans and chapters thrown in making no sense. It’s a fast read but unrealistic. Ford comes off like a bozo and it’s apparent his girlfriend works the resorts with elderly regulars. The true story must be more interesting. Can’t believe this took Bonner seven years, and only his second book. They say authors create characters that are similar to them, seems a reason this book fell flat. "
— Ralph Conner, 8/29/2025
About Stayton Bonner
Stayton Bonner is a former senior editor at Rolling Stone nominated for the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting. His journalism has appeared in publications including GQ, Esquire, and Outside. His previous book, Bare Knuckle, was a USA Today national bestseller.
About Ari Fliakos
Ari Fliakos is an actor with experience in television, radio, film, theater, and voice-overs. He has earned four Earphones Awards, and his narration of Seth Patrick’s Reviver won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration for paranormal fiction. On screen, he is best-known for his roles in Law & Order, Pills, and Company K.