Seymour's book, Seven Bones, edited by journalist and Jamison High School teacher Jason Foster, tells his story.

In 1991, police discovered the small number of bones around the home of Thomas Andrew Keir in Wilkes Crescent, Tregear.

They were later identified as the bones of his wife, Jean Keir, who was reported missing in 1989.

But this gruesome discovery was only made after Keir had been charged with the murder of his second wife, Rosalina, whose charred body was found in the same premises, also in 1991.

"I wrote this book to help people, particularly women, get out of situations involving domestic violence," Mr Seymour said.

"Don't put up with situations you're in: seek help."

In 1989, 27-year-old Detective Senior Constable Seymour of the St Marys police visited Wilkes Crescent when investigating the first Mrs Keir's disappearance.

"When called to the scene of Rosalina's murder, I remembered being there when I investigated Jean's disappearance," he said.

"That's when alarm bells rang and led me to having grave concerns for the first wife."

Keir was tried for Rosalina's death but acquitted in 1993.

However, information obtained through prison informers while Keir was in remand, led police to search for remains of the first Mrs Keir at her last address.

"But we couldn't do anything until we had all the available evidence," Mr Seymour said.

The bones were sent to a Melbourne laboratory for DNA analysis, but positive identification had to wait for more advances in the science, in the US in 1998.

Keir was charged with Jean's murder, but was not finally convicted until three trials and two appeals later, in 2004.

Aged 46, he was sentenced to 22 years' jail.

"I felt relief when he was finally convicted," Mr Seymour said.

"I also felt grateful; to the crown prosecutor and to the jurors.

"In murder inquiries, we get to know the families who have a lot of expectations of the police.

"I wouldn't say this was the worst case I'd been involved in, but it was the most protracted."

Detective Seymour eventually rose to the rank of senior sergeant.

He left the force in 2004 and now works at Blacktown Council, in charge of the council's rangers.

Mr Seymour said his current job may not be as exciting as police work, but he was grateful he no longer had to confront the sorts of tragedies that led him to writing his book.

For help with domestic violence you can phone 1800 737 732 or go to the website dvrcv.org.au