What is the author's style in Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark?

The language used by Muriel Spark in Loitering with Intent is colloquial with a slightly elevated vocabulary which makes it that much more believable, since the story is told from the point of view of Fleur Talbot, an avid reader and author. The language fits into the time period in which the novel takes place, though, not to the extent that it would not make sense if it were lifted out of 1950 and told in a different setting. The language serves as a characterization of sorts of the novel's main character, Fleur Talbot, by conveying her personality through her choice of words and literary devices, including sarcasm, situational comic relief, metaphors and similes, and her overall realistic attitude toward the world.