With the release of "Mandala Murders" on Netflix on July 25, 2025, a mythological crime thriller featuring Vaani Kapoor's OTT debut, viewers are gearing up for a suspenseful ride. To prepare for the series' blend of ritualistic killings, ancient secrets, and detective work, here's a revisit of some equally thrilling whodunits.

"Mandala Murders" is set in the eerie town of Charandaspur, where detectives Rea Thomas (Vaani Kapoor) and Vikram Singh (Vaibhav Raj Gupta) uncover a web of ritualistic murders tied to a centuries-old secret society. The series promises a blend of mystery, crime, myths, and suspense.

If you enjoy crime thrillers with mysterious plots, here are some web series to revisit:

• Asur: This series follows Nikhil, a forensic expert turned teacher, as he investigates a series of mysterious murders with his mentor. The series stars Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti. It is streaming on JioHotstar. The show combines criminal investigation with Hindu mythology, exploring good versus evil.
• Criminal Justice: This courtroom drama has multiple seasons, each dealing with a different case involving a gruesome crime and minimal evidence. Pankaj Tripathi plays advocate Madhav Mishra. The series explores justice, morality, and the flaws of the legal system. It is available on JioHotstar.
• Kohrra: Revolves around the murder investigation of a bridegroom in Punjab and how two police officers try to unravel the truth behind his death. The series stars Suvinder Vicky and Barun Sobti and is streaming on Netflix.
• Sacred Games: Based on Vikram Chandra's novel, this series follows police officer Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan) as he searches for criminal overlord Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). It was India's first Netflix original series.
• The Family Man: This series follows Srikant Tiwari (Manoj Vajpayee), a middle-class man leading a double life as a world-class spy. The series explores his attempts to balance his familial responsibilities with his work at the National Intelligence Agency.
• Special Ops: This series focuses on RAW agent Himmat Singh (Kay Kay Menon) and his mission to track down the terrorist mastermind behind multiple attacks in India. Season 2 transitions to a cyber-espionage theme.

For fans of classic whodunits, consider these films:

• Knives Out: A modern take on the classic murder mystery, this film features Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc investigating a wealthy family after the patriarch's death.
• Death on the Nile: Based on Agatha Christie's novel, this film follows Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) as he investigates a murder on a cruise ship.
• Crooked House: Based on Agatha Christie's novel, this film follows Charles Hayward (Max Irons) as he investigates the death of a wealthy man. The cast includes Glenn Close and Gillian Anderson.
• Identity: Strangers are stranded at a motel during a storm only to be murdered one by one.
• The Hateful Eight: Bounty hunters are stuck in a stagecoach stopover during a storm and find themselves in a plot of deception and murder.

These recommendations offer a range of thrilling mysteries to enjoy before diving into the world of "Mandala Murders". With its blend of mythology, crime, and suspense, "Mandala Murders" promises to be a captivating addition to the genre. The series will be available on Netflix on July 25, 2025, at 12:30 PM IST.