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Born and raised in Philadelphia, Art Smukler now resides in Los Angeles with his wife and (sometimes) children’s dogs Lucy and Stella.
For forty years, Art Smukler, MD had a thriving private practice and was a faculty member of UCLA. During this time, he conducted an intensive psychotherapy conference for senior psychiatric residents and achieved numerous awards, among them Teacher-of-the-Year award and the coveted Golden Ear award.
As a psychiatrist and a Major in the US Air Force, Art treated Air Force personnel, their families, and casualties from Vietnam. He was chief of psychiatry at Forbes AFB, and acting chief at Eglin AFB, a seventy-bed regional inpatient psychiatric facility.
He graduated with honors from Pennsylvania State University, finished top of his class at Hahnemann School of Medicine, did his internship at the University of Pennsylvania, and his residency at Hahnemann School of Medicine and Harbor- UCLA.
Reviewed by Mansoor Ahmed for Readers' Favorite
Patient X by Art Smukler, MD is a gripping mystery that begins with a startling scene—Jake Bennett sees his brother Nelson, who died two years earlier, alive in a crowded Santa Monica street. This moment sets off a chain of events that pulls Jake into a world of confusion, loss, and unexpected danger. As Jake tries to make sense of what he saw, the story reveals his struggles as an aspiring writer, his complicated relationship with Gina, and his day-to-day life as a waiter. The plot thickens when Jake’s path crosses with Dr. Todd Horowitz, a psychiatric resident, and their lives become linked through Jake’s stay at Nine North, a psychiatric unit. The story weaves together Jake’s search for answers, the secrets of his brother’s past, and the lives of those around him, all while exploring themes of grief, identity, and the thin line between reality and fantasy.
Art Smukler's writing is clear and vivid, making it easy to picture each scene and feel the characters’ emotions. The plot moves quickly, with just the right mix of suspense and personal moments to keep you turning the pages. The dialogue feels natural, and the characters are believable and easy to care about, especially Jake, whose pain and hope come through strongly. The action is well-paced, with moments of tension balanced by quieter, reflective scenes. Themes of family, mental health, and self-discovery are woven throughout the narrative in a meaningful way. I found myself invested in Jake’s journey and enjoyed how the story kept me guessing. Patient X is perfect for anyone who likes mysteries with real emotional depth and characters you can root for.
