I've never personally killed Meldrath, but others in my guild have in the
past and they found nothing.

Its possible, however, that he has been itemized recently for quests, and
one item he may have is the 3rd book.

From a in game context sort of thing it would make sence that perhaps the
only person in the Gimbelstons (or however his name is spelled) mino
raiding party to not make it out of the mines was the tinkerer himself.

Rotgut