The story's grim tone would lead to it being further re-worked.

He paused, and his voice took on a grimmer tone.

"I knew it," he said, with the grim tone of a man who was having bad news confirmed.

There was a grim tone in her voice and he felt no doubt that the search had been thorough.

By his grim tone, Zedd knew the reports must have had it right.

'I'd like to get to know you better,' he said in that same grim tone.

At the end of the afternoon she told me, in a rather grim tone, "You're smart."

IN winter, this city takes on a particularly grim tone.

"Shot in the back," Jamie said, a grim tone to his voice.

"We will have to hunt them down, once our business is done here," she said in grim tones.