The Navajo police lieutenant from 14 Tony Hillerman novels has been altered for television. But his creator is pleased with what he sees.

Wes Studi, who plays Leaphorn in “Skinwalkers” as the new PBS Mystery  season gets under way Sunday (9 p.m. EST), must share credit for the novelist’s pleasure with director Chris Eyre and writer Jamie Redford, son of Robert Redford (who’s the executive producer).

Instead of the wise, patient and culturally sensitive sleuth of literature, the Leaphorn of the first U.S.set episode of the previously all-British Mystery series is redrawn as a grouchy urban cop who has lost touch with his Navajo roots and returns to the reservation with his ailing wife. Joe Leaphorn is not his old self but Tony Hillerman is happy with ‘Skinwalkers’ »»