What is the author's style in The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham?

Since the story is told as a narrative, the language and meaning is largely straightforward. As Maugham states in the book's opening, the novel is presented as a chronological series of events. If that's true, then any symbolism or hidden meaning is a result of facts, not the author's work. For example, Maugham states that Gray has gained weight after the stock market crash and looks older.