This is especially tricky in the field of bio / biochem, which feels like it requires memorizing a million facts before one gets to do any real thinking and reasoning. This unfortunately tends to filter out a lot of more mathematically-minded people who are stimulated by puzzles, which I think is a shame.
For what it's worth, I really enjoyed this textbook. I'm not sure you will find in it what you're hoping to find, but I hope it sparks even more curiosity; it's fairly advanced, probably more targeted at late-BSc or MSc/PhD students: https://www.amazon.com/First-Course-Systems-Biology/dp/08153...