What is the author's style in The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope?

The story is written in third person but is limited to Kate's perspective. This method is probably necessary because it gives the author the ability to build suspense and to keep specific facts secret until the moment of revealing. A prime example of this is seen when Kate meets Christopher for the first time. Kate's attention is captured by Christopher's aloof manner and his dress. It seems that he pays a great deal of attention to style and that he couldn't care less what others think of him. In reality, he's punishing himself for what he believes to be his role in the death of his niece. Christopher's aloof manner appears more openly when his brother is present and at other times, Christopher leaves the castle and lives in near-abject poverty, a method of punishing himself for the moment he believes cost the life of his niece. Time passes before Kate discovers these facts and the reader only learns these things about Christopher as Kate learns them. If the author had chosen an omniscient perspective, the reader would have known of Christopher's attitude much earlier and the surprise twist of this situation would have been lost. The same is true of Master John's actions and his role in the Fairy Folk. Kate doesn't like Master John from the beginning and he takes on the aura of an evil character early in the book but the reader doesn't learn the truth about Master John's role in the situation until Kate learns the details. Again, the surprise would have been lost by some other perspective.