Maximum Bob (novel)

Maximum Bob is a satirical crime novel by Elmore Leonard, published in 1991. The story follows Bob Gibbs, a highly opinionated and somewhat delusional South Florida judge known for his harsh sentencing and bizarre pronouncements. He believes he can stop people from committing crimes merely by staring at them.

The narrative centers around Bob's increasingly paranoid behavior and the machinations of various individuals whose lives become intertwined with his. These include Kathy Baker, a probation officer assigned to Bob's case after his wife attempts to murder him; Dale Crowe Jr., a violent ex-convict with a penchant for pyrotechnics and a strange obsession with Kathy; and Dicky Maxwell, a corrupt Miami state attorney with ambitions to become governor.

Maximum Bob is characterized by Leonard's signature style: sharp dialogue, darkly humorous situations, and a cast of eccentric, often amoral characters. The novel explores themes of justice, paranoia, and the absurdity of the legal system, all set against the backdrop of South Florida's vibrant and often seedy underbelly. The novel was adapted into a short-lived television series of the same name.